Altered Minds (2014)

Such a frustrating disappointment

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

This is a great psychological thriller, that proves that with a good story and script, a competent director and actors can produce a great flick on a small budget. This one is all about the story - minimal blood, minimal body count (mainly historical flashbacks to war zones), and no nudity. Very well done, and look forward to future work from this director.Here comes the spoiler alert (watch the flick first):*** *** ***MK Ultra is mentioned once. Unlike most conspiracy nonsense, this was real, and involved the kinds of unethical experimentation touched upon here. We know about it now due to the Freedom of Information Act. It also encompassed such nonsensical experimentation as that semi-fictionalized in "The Men Who Stare At Goats."Remember the films you watched as a youth in PE or health class, about the dangers of drugs, and how LSD might make you think you can fly? One of the few times that actually happened was someone under MK Ultra, dosed on LSD without their knowledge - they didn't think they could fly, they were terrified because of the state they were in, without knowing why, likely expecting that this would be the state they'd be in for the rest of their life.

Followed this film online as it went through the motions and ultimately changed its name. Waited years to see it, as I was extremely interested in the subject matter, and was seeing a lot of good reviews. Reluctantly talked my wife into watching it with me one Friday night, and unfortunately we ended up laughing at it and questioning the plot twists. Its dialogue is pretty bad, and the human interaction is alienating in its manufactured tension. Overall, it was cringe-inducing watching the actors on-screen. I gave this film an extra star because it wasn't filmed on a hand-held camera. But I would urge people to stay away from this because it is just so remarkably bad.

I've seen Altered Minds described as a psychological thriller, which is in part accurate. I prefer to think of it more as a psychological mystery. I went to public school with the Writer and Director and Producer Michael Z. Wechsler, so I already had made a mental note to see this film when it was released. A small crowdfunding campaign for additional production costs let me back it and get an early copy of the DVD.The film stars Judd Hirsch as Dr. Nathaniel Shellner, a Nobel Prize- winning psychiatrist now 75 years old and slowly dying from cancer. As his family gathers for his birthday celebration, chaos begins to ensue as youngest son Tommy exhibits a worsening mental instability and paranoid accusations directed at his father. Tommy (Ryan O'Nan), who was adopted by the family as a youngster, is joined at the get- together by fellow adopted children Julie (Jaime Ray Newman) and Harry (C.S. Lee, who many will recognize from his role on the Showtime series Dexter). Also in attendance is the Doctor's faithful wife Lillian (Caroline Lagerfelt) and eldest child Leonard (Joseph Lyle Taylor) who is the only natural child.As you would expect, one has to tread lightly when reviewing a film like this because of the need to avoid any spoilers. The focus of the celebration quickly moves from Nathaniel to Tommy, and even though his rantings and stories sound fantastic they begin to have an effect on his two adopted siblings as well. As Dr. Shellner's work has focused on traumatized patients – especially those from war zones or former military personnel – the adopted children have vague memories of their lives before being rescued and brought to the United States. And there is the usual tension between adopted children and the one natural child. Tommy becomes more and more insistent about his claims, and soon it becomes clear there may be more to the family history than meets the eye.Shot on a moderate budget, the home and surrounding winter landscape is quite beautiful and captures the isolation the family is experiencing; there is no world but the family itself at that moment, and the microscope can only be turned within. Ryan O'Nan does a rather good turn as the troubled Tommy. His role is one that could have easily succumbed to overacting but I found he managed to walk the tightrope successfully. To my surprise, the acting I was least impressed with was that of my personal favorite Judd Hirsch and of Caroline Lagerfelt. Granted, both characters are quite reserved in personality, but I never was fully convinced by their moments of strong emotion, whether love or anger or despair. I think Mr. Hirsch played his Dr. Shellner a touch too analytically, and perhaps that reflected onto his wife's character. Wechsler enjoys some clever misdirection in the plot; at least enough to muddy the waters and allow you to focus more on what is happening and less on trying to guess the answers to all the looming questions. Not everything succeeds fully, but there is enough which works to make Altered Minds enjoyable and entertaining. Overall I think most fans of this genre of film will enjoy Altered Minds, and it is good enough for me to forgive Wechsler for writing a negative review of the Romero/King masterpiece Creepshow back in 8th Grade. Considering how much I love that movie, you should be able to see I give Altered Minds more than a simple passing grade.

I think Michael Wechsler did a fantastic job with this film. As a psychology student, the effects of memories, experiences and lifestyle on a person's life are always of interest to me. It was great to see this explored in a non traditional family. It was also nice that the film kept you in suspense of what was going on beneath the surface of its characters. Judd Hirsch was fantastic and it was nice to see him on the big screen. The supporting actors are equally strong. Ryan O'Nan as Tommy was an excellent choice. He has an appeal his character needs to make you care about them and want to get to the bottom of their psyche and what happened in their past. C.S. Lee and Jamie Ray Newman were stand outs as well. There are twists and turns which lead to a surprise ending. Hoping to see more from Mr. Wechsler in the future. I really like movies which explore the depths of the human mind and how it affects real life scenarios.