Rent Wise Blood (1979)

3.4 of 5 from 96 ratings
1h 41min
Rent Wise Blood (aka John Huston's Wise Blood) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
Legendary film director John Huston creates one of his most cerebral films that will stay with the viewer for a long time. Set in the American Deep South during the post-war era, 'Wise Blood' stars Brad Dourif as Hazel Motes, an unhinged and aimless war-veteran, who decides to become a Bible-thumping preacher for a quasi-religious cult called 'The Church Without Christ'. Linking up with a fraudulent hustler from hellfire-and-brimstone preaching circuit - who pretends to be blind for the assembled believers - Motes is put under pressure by the fraudster to blind himself for real so that he can truly 'see the light'.
A dark satire on religious movements that, beautifully acted by Dourif, Huston and William Hickey.
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , Marvin Sapp, Richard Earle, , Betty Lou Groover, , , Philip Mixer, Sharon Johnson, , , Leonard Holmes
Directors:
Producers:
Kathy Fitzgerald, Michael Fitzgerald
Writers:
Flannery O'Connor, Benedict Fitzgerald, Michael Fitzgerald
Aka:
John Huston's Wise Blood
Studio:
Second Sight Films Ltd.
Genres:
Classics, Comedy, Drama
Collections:
Instant Expert's Guide to John Huston, Top 10 Films of 1979
BBFC:
Release Date:
02/03/2009
Run Time:
101 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles:
None
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Interview with actor Brad Dourif
  • Interview with actor Amy Wright
  • Interview with screenplay writer and producer Michael Fitzgerald
  • Interview with screenplay writer Benedict Fitzgerald
BBFC:
Release Date:
12/09/2016
Run Time:
106 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
None
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.66:1
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
(0) All
Bonus:
  • Trailers Included: 'Under the Volcano'; 'Dad Savage'; 'Black Orpheus'; 'The Romantic English Woman' and 'The Devil and Daniel Webster'

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Reviews (1) of Wise Blood

One of the best US films of a golden decade! - Wise Blood review by TE

Spoiler Alert
31/01/2020

Watching this again after a long gap made me realise what a masterpiece it is.

The Southern Gothic tone, and the sheer weirdness of the central character's anti-religious religiosity, make for a fascinating presentation of Flannery O'Connor's cult fiction. Brad Dourif is one of the few actors who could have pulled off this level of intensity and manic strangeness. It's a shame that he has had so few lead roles in his career.

There is something very contemporary about the way in which the population of the town is drawn towards hucksters like the men played by Harry Dean Stanton and Ned Beatty (both brilliant). It's how Trump started and how he still proceeds.

Unfortunately for his physical and mental health, Hazel Moats is the real deal, not a huckster.

3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

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