Claim: Ken Russell directed a film that was adapted from a novel by Paddy Chayefsky.

Altered States is a 1980 American science fiction-horror film directed by Ken Russell and adapted from a novel by the same name by playwright and screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky . The film was adapted from Chayefsky 's only novel and has his final screenplay . Both the novel and the film are based on John C. Lilly 's sensory deprivation research conducted in isolation tanks under the influence of psychoactive drugs like mescaline , ketamine and LSD .   It marked the film debut of William Hurt and Drew Barrymore . Chayefsky was credited as a screenwriter for the film using the pseudonym Sidney Aaron , his actual first and middle names .   The film score was composed by John Corigliano -LRB- with Christopher Keene conducting -RRB- . The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing .