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Wise Blood

Play trailer Poster for Wise Blood PG Released Dec 12, 1979 1h 48m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
After returning home from World War II, uneducated and irreligious U.S. Army veteran Hazel Motes (Brad Dourif) decides to make his way in the world by impersonating a priest and starting his own religion. Motes soon attracts a follower -- a manic potato peeler named Enoch Emery (Dan Shor) -- but things get complicated when he encounters fellow sidewalk charlatans Asa Hawks (Harry Dean Stanton) and his waif-like young daughter, Sabbath Lilly Hawks (Amy Wright).
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Wise Blood

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Critics Consensus

Director John Huston and author Flannery O'Connor prove a formidable creative match in Wise Blood, a gothic satire anchored by Brad Dourif's vinegary performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Uhlich Time Out Flannery O'Connor's incisive sense of person and place is brilliantly captured in this 1979 film adaptation of her highly regarded first novel, which plays out as a broad comedy set within a timeless purgatory. Rated: 5/6 Aug 4, 2020 Full Review Frank Rich TIME Magazine This time, Huston has found material that was all but guaranteed to fuel the battiest recesses of his imagination. Sep 19, 2014 Full Review Variety Staff Variety John Huston, with uncluttered direction and expert handling of actors, has fashioned a disturbing tale of the fringe side of overzealous religious preachers in the deep South. Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …an allegory, but of a wry and intelligent kind that’s peppered with memorable moments and scenes, impeccably played… Rated: 4/5 May 1, 2023 Full Review Tom Huhn Washington Blade Every shot in the film seems efficient and economical: clever and skillful in most cases, but always precise. [It] leaves the viewer amazed, puzzled, but finally satisfied. The film is ultimately honest at a time when that quality seems rarer and rarer. May 18, 2022 Full Review Stephen Farber New West/California Wise Blood is as sly and nimble as some of the late films of Bunuel. Huston is now 73, so this is an old man's film, but it has a vigor and audacity that most young directors should envy. Nov 4, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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CodyZamboni Z Unsuccessful satire on organized religion, A mean, pissed off Brad Dourif gives a strong performance, as he grows increasingly psycho, murderous and self destructive, Wacky characters don't connect, Movie's points aren't focused , The ending is pointless, and maybe that was intentional, Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review James D I kept wondering throughout the movie: Where is this headed? I seemed directionless and without purpose or meaning. Yep, by the end that is exactly what this movie is about - roaming senselessness. Was this Huston's stab at "A Clockwork Orange" or a biker movie? I'll never get that 1 hour and 47 minutes of my life back. I feel dumber for having watched it. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/17/23 Full Review robert m One of the best of the Southern Gothic movies. And it stays close to the story that Flannery wrote. Like many of the militant atheists, her main character (Hazel) is obsessed with religion. He pulls other people into his personal tragedy as he preaches against God and Christ. Don't be surpised if you become one of Hazel's victims. This movie may give you nightmares. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Very bizarre, hilarious, awkward. I loved it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/16/20 Full Review Audience Member Think this one would be better shot my Coen Bros or Martin McDonagh, who have a feel for O'Connor type stories. The soundtrack is distracting and uneven. Overdubbing with a fresh one would remedy half of what's objectionable in this movie. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member This is on my ten-best movies list. What Huston wrung out of a low-budget on-location movie with lesser parts played by locals is phenomenal. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Wise Blood

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Cast & Crew

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John Huston

Director

Brad Dourif

Hazel Motes

Amy Wright

Sabbath Lily

Harry Dean Stanton

Asa Hawks

Dan Shor

Enoch Emory

John Huston

Grandfather

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Wise Blood

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Movie Info

Synopsis After returning home from World War II, uneducated and irreligious U.S. Army veteran Hazel Motes (Brad Dourif) decides to make his way in the world by impersonating a priest and starting his own religion. Motes soon attracts a follower -- a manic potato peeler named Enoch Emery (Dan Shor) -- but things get complicated when he encounters fellow sidewalk charlatans Asa Hawks (Harry Dean Stanton) and his waif-like young daughter, Sabbath Lilly Hawks (Amy Wright).
Director
John Huston
Producer
Kathy Fitzgerald, Michael Fitzgerald, Wolfgang Limmer
Screenwriter
Benedict Fitzgerald, Michael Fitzgerald
Production Co
Anthea
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 48m
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