Altered
A traumatized group of friends captures the alien that once scarred them, only to face a grotesque siege that turns revenge into a species-level dilemma.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- tense
- grimy
- claustrophobic
- late night horror marathon
- creature feature night
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as a mixed but occasionally effective independent creature feature, praising its gore and practical effects while faulting its talky dialogue and inconsistent atmosphere.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Wyatt, Cody, Duke, and Otis remain marked by their teenage encounter, experimentation, and the death of their friend fifteen years later.
The captured alien is held in a barricaded bunker-like setting while the group debates whether to release or kill it.
Cody is infected by an alien virus described as leading toward transmogrification, while the creature's abilities produce grotesque physical consequences.
Duke, Cody, and Otis pursue revenge, but Wyatt must weigh their lives against the possible danger of releasing the alien.
Films like Altered, and why
Fire in the Sky
backwoods alien terror, abduction trauma, and graphic creature horror
The Thing
contained extraterrestrial threat, paranoia, and escalating body horror
The Faculty
rural science fiction horror, human experimentation, and grotesque infection
Movie Details
- Director
- Eduardo Sánchez
- Release Date
- 2006-12-19
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (267)
Cast
- Adam Kaufman
- Brad William Henke
- Misty Rosas
- Paul McCarthy-Boyington
- Michael C. Williams
- James Gammon
- Catherine Mangan
- Joe Unger
- John William Wright
- Shea Elmore
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Altered about?
- A traumatized group of friends captures the alien that once scarred them, only to face a grotesque siege that turns revenge into a species-level dilemma.
- What is Altered like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Altered as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Altered violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Altered as graphic.
- What did critics think of Altered?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as a mixed but occasionally effective independent creature feature, praising its gore and practical effects while faulting its talky dialogue and inconsistent atmosphere.
- Which films are like Altered?
- Films with a similar feel include Fire in the Sky, The Thing, and The Faculty.
- How long is Altered?
- Altered runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Altered?
- In United States, Altered is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
