The movie Jesus’ Son, released in 2000 and directed by Alison Maclean, is based on a collection of short stories of the same name written by Denis Johnson. The short story collection was published in 1992 and would be considered dramatic. The protagonist in both is referred to as FH and is a substance abuser, but that is where the similarity ends. Within the short story collection, FH appears to be dark and detached, with an unusually shallow perspective of his experiences. Johnson appears to have written FH’s perspective in first person to illustrate that a drug addict has no further understanding or explanation of himself than anyone else. Conversely, the movie’s characterization of FH is of a person who is familiar and relatable. Furthermore,
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One key point is the situation described within the short story “Two Men”, where FH has held a drug dealer’s wife, Mrs. Thatcher, at gunpoint. Shockingly, when she explains to him that she has two kids in the apartment, FH screams at her, “I don’t care!” (25) From this part of the story, a reader comes to understand that FH can be incapable of feeling sympathy and also comes to appreciate there is a disturbing level of immorality within FH. Possibly, Maclean’s choices are to have FH appear more likable to the point of losing the author’s intention of providing his readers a view of FH’s deviant tendencies. Within “Beverly Home” is another point where a dark side of FH is revealed as he explains, while he is spying on a Mennonite woman, that he fantasizes “breaking through the glass and raping her.” (119) In stark contrast to Maclean’s version, Johnson reveal’s FH to be someone intent on pursuing his desire without regard for consequence to anyone but himself. Notably, the willingness of the book’s author to provide a realistic and disturbing look at the destructive impact of drug addiction provides the reader with some level of enlightenment. Ultimately, the book reveals FH to be morally ambiguous due to the effects of substance
One key point is the situation described within the short story “Two Men”, where FH has held a drug dealer’s wife, Mrs. Thatcher, at gunpoint. Shockingly, when she explains to him that she has two kids in the apartment, FH screams at her, “I don’t care!” (25) From this part of the story, a reader comes to understand that FH can be incapable of feeling sympathy and also comes to appreciate there is a disturbing level of immorality within FH. Possibly, Maclean’s choices are to have FH appear more likable to the point of losing the author’s intention of providing his readers a view of FH’s deviant tendencies. Within “Beverly Home” is another point where a dark side of FH is revealed as he explains, while he is spying on a Mennonite woman, that he fantasizes “breaking through the glass and raping her.” (119) In stark contrast to Maclean’s version, Johnson reveal’s FH to be someone intent on pursuing his desire without regard for consequence to anyone but himself. Notably, the willingness of the book’s author to provide a realistic and disturbing look at the destructive impact of drug addiction provides the reader with some level of enlightenment. Ultimately, the book reveals FH to be morally ambiguous due to the effects of substance