Altered States of Consciousness in the Movies

Altered states of consciousness (ASCs)—including dreams, hypnosis, spirit possession and brainwashing—have long captivated contemporary culture. In the 20th century, Hollywood integrated ASCs into an array of films, reflecting society’s fascination with the subject. After early cinematic portrayals laid the groundwork, the depiction of ASCs on the silver screen surged with the advent of special effects in the 1960s and are abundant in the present day.
This book traces the rise and proliferation of ASCs within American cinema, focusing on major studio releases from the 1940s onward. By examining various aspects of altered consciousness, from weaponized hypnosis to spiritual encounters, the text sheds light on the cultural reception of these films, recent research on ASCs and discrepancies between scientific knowledge and cinematic representation.

John C. Stephens is an adjunct professor of religion at San Joaquin Delta Community College in Stockton, California.

John C. Stephens
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 212
Bibliographic Info: 56 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2025
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9504-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5433-1
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1

Introduction 5

Chapter One: Hypnosis 17

Chapter Two: Brainwashing 48

Chapter Three: Possession 74

Chapter Four: Dreams 105

Chapter Five: Visions, Part One 130

Chapter Six: Visions, Part Two 152

Conclusion 183

Chapter Notes 195

Bibliography 199

Index 203

• “Because cinema has always depended on agreed-upon concepts of reality, the altered states of consciousness whose depiction in films is the subject of John C. Stephens’ thorough and well-considered investigation deserve a place, not at the margins of the study of film, but in the center of our understanding of what movies are and the effects they have on us and on our society. We may be a little more like the dreamers and visionaries who populate this volume than we like to think.”—​Bernard Welt, professor emeritus, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, The George Washington University

• “John Stephens has constructed a comprehensive survey of the varying ways in which altered states of consciousness are depicted on screen. These range from hypnosis to brainwashing; religious visions to clairvoyance. The genres include religious films, horror, and everything in between. Stephens also examines the role of popular culture in disseminating perceptions around these altered states, and how cinematic shorthand can differ from reality, yet still become the prevalent cultural understanding.”—Kimberley McMahon-Coleman, Charles Sturt University