Wise Blood

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Wise Blood

PG

1979

1h 48m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

27 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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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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Dan Schindel

Screen Slate

Aug 13, 2026

In general, there is a more whimsical, picaresque tone where the book was much darker.

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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.

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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…

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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).

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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,

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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.

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Jul 16, 2020

Very bizarre, hilarious, awkward. I loved it.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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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