Wise Blood (film)

Wise Blood
Original film poster
Directed byJohn Huston
Screenplay byBenedict Fitzgerald
Michael Fitzgerald
Based onWise Blood
1952 novel
by Flannery O'Connor
Produced byKathy Fitzgerald
Michael Fitzgerald
StarringBrad Dourif
Ned Beatty
Harry Dean Stanton
Dan Shor
Amy Wright
Mary Nell Santacroce
CinematographyGerry Fisher
Edited byRoberto Silvi
Music byAlex North
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Release dates
  • May 23, 1979 (1979-05-23) (Cannes)
  • October 24, 1979 (1979-10-24) (France)
  • December 12, 1979 (1979-12-12) (Los Angeles)
Running time
108 minutes
CountriesUnited States
West Germany
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,000,000

Wise Blood is a 1979 black comedy drama film directed by John Huston and starring Brad Dourif,[1] Dan Shor, Amy Wright, Harry Dean Stanton, and Ned Beatty. It is based on the 1952 novel Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor. As a co-production with Germany the film was titled Der Ketzer or Die Weisheit des Blutes when released in Germany, and Le Malin when released in France.

The film follows the lives of a war veteran preacher and his associates. When he refuses to pose as a prophet for a promoter, the promoter convinces a replacement to copy the preacher's manner of dressing and style of preaching. The preacher eventually blinds himself and becomes unresponsive to his environment. His landlady has an unrequited love for him. She continues trying to revive him, even when he is seemingly dead.