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Wise Blood

Play trailer Poster for Wise Blood PG 1979 1h 48m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 28 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 Aug 4, 2020
5/6
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. Go to Full Review Frank Rich TIME Magazine Sep 19, 2014
This time, Huston has found material that was all but guaranteed to fuel the battiest recesses of his imagination. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Jul 6, 2010
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. Go to Full Review Dan Schindel Screen Slate Aug 13, 2026
In general, there is a more whimsical, picaresque tone where the book was much darker. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 31, 2026
3.5/4
It would be no easy task bringing Flannery O’Connor’s stories to the screen, yet here’s John Huston bucking the odds as he often did over the course of his remarkable career. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com May 1, 2023
4/5
…an allegory, but of a wry and intelligent kind that’s peppered with memorable moments and scenes, impeccably played… Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Luca D @JoeCamel7 Sep 28, 2025 Goes from black comedy to drama about halfway through. Wish the characters were a little more fleshed out, but their standoffishnish is very realistic, especially when they proclaim how hard it is to make friends in their small town. Just wish we got to know them a little better, or even if they had smallest bit of connection. The acting throughout this movie is phenomenal, though it's very 1970s acting its still good, comes off almost like actors in a play which I personally think is the best acting. I haven't delved into the meaning of the book/movie but it definitely makes you think about yourself and your actions towards others, especially in terms of preaching and spreading information (or misinformation). See more CodyZamboni Z @CodyZamboni Nov 22, 2024 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, See more robert m @RT01909882 Mar 25, 2021 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. See more Jul 16, 2020 Very bizarre, hilarious, awkward. I loved it. See more Sep 28, 2019 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. See more Jul 6, 2019 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. See more Read all reviews
Wise Blood

My Rating

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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

Wise Blood (1979) Wise Blood (1979) Wise Blood (1979) View more photos

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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