I watched Wise Blood the other night. I haven't read the book, which I plan to soon remedy, but here is an essay on the film as it related to Flannery O'Connor's novel. It seemed John Huston took a less "grotesque" approach, although many of the symbolic references remained. He updated the setting to the 70s. Of course, not much had changed since the 50s except the cars in this Southern city. Hazel chooses a 1950s behemoth to drive around in. Huston took Hazel Motes' personal quest for salvation seriously, even if he appeared to lampoon it by the odd assortment of characters around him. I thought Brad Dourif and the supporting cast, which included Harry Dean Stanton and Ned Beatty, were excellent.