Altered States
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Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
A Harvard scientist floats in an isolation tank on Mexican mushroom brew and starts devolving, first in flash-cut hallucinations of goats and crucifixions, then physically, into something hairy and screaming. Paddy Chayefsky hated what Ken Russell did to his script enough to take his name off it, which tells you exactly how much fun this is. William Hurt's first film.
Altered States (1980) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | No MPAA certificate (released outside the US system) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 102 minutes |
| Jump scares | 2/5 — on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares |
| Gore | 3/5 — a moderate amount of blood and violence |
| Dread | 3/5 — a lingering atmosphere that stays for the evening |
| Themes | graphic bodily transformation; psychological distress; existential, unknowable threats |
Altered States carries no MPAA certificate. We score it 2/5 for jump scares, 3/5 for gore and 3/5 for lingering dread, over 102 minutes. Better suited to teens than to younger children.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Altered States?
- On our intensity scale, Altered States rates 4/10 for jump scares and 6/10 for dread. It is on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares.
- How gory is Altered States?
- Altered States rates 6/10 for gore — expect a moderate amount of blood and violence.
- How long is Altered States?
- Altered States runs 102 minutes (1h 42m).
- What is Altered States rated?
- Altered States has no MPAA certificate — common for films released outside the US. On our scale it rates 4/10 for jump scares, 6/10 for gore and 6/10 for dread.
- Where to watch Altered States (1980)?
- Altered States is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
