From John Huston, or Jhon Huston as the credits would placate, Wise Blood marks my first foray into later-period Huston. Southern gothic is the order of the day, with this darkly satirical look at the ‘business’ of religion. Hazel Motes (Brad Dourif), a young man fresh out of the military forms the “Church Without Christ”, an endeavour heavily inspired by his relationship with his preacher grandfather (played by Huston himself). We follow him on his journey as he encounters a wide and varied range of weird and wonderful people, all of which lead him towards his own shocking personal conclusion. 

As a study of faith Wise Blood joins the ranks of There Will Be Blood, Who’s That Knocking At My Door and Au Hasard Balthazar as a piece that tackles the subject in an abstract yet hugely relevent manner. Placing the film alongside the work of Bresson may initially seem a stretch, but I think the similarities are incredibly overt. Personally this sort of look at faith has always drawn me in as a viewer, with an emotional attachment coming pre-fitted as standard. I wasn’t prepared for the about turn that the film takes in the final ten minutes, whereby our protagonist puts himself through an incredible amount of physical abuse, as his beliefs (or non-beliefs) begin to falter and he punishes himself in the manner that we have seen his grandfather punish him in the past.

Brad Dourif is suitably idiosyncratic in the role of Hazel, oozing eratic unnease from every line, with Dan Shor’s Enoch Emory the most appropriate of companions. Ned Beatty as the opportunist evangelical Hoover Shoates provides a memorable performance from all of three scenes and Harry Dean Stanton is on top form as a not-blind preacher come conman. Its a wonderful little cast, with each area of characterisation proving successful towards the quirky nature of the film. The subplot involving Emory’s encounter with Gonga the film promoting gorilla is a particular highlight. 

Wise Blood proved to be something of a wonderful experience, a genuine cinematic delight and a great introduction to late career John Huston. I look forward to revisiting the film.