John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd starred in an undistinguished film adaptation released in 1981. Directed by John G. Avildsen, with a screenplay by Larry Gelbart, this film attempted to capitalize on the novel's critical and popular success by developing it as a vehicle for the popular Belushi and Aykroyd,. The female leads were Cathy Moriarity and Kathryn Walker, neither of whom made much of an impact.

The film's chances of success were seriously hampered by the miscasting of Belushi as Keese and Aykroyd as Vic (the Harry of the novel). Although the intention may have been to impose control on Belushi's manic style and to prove that he was capable of playing a victim, the casting simply does not work: Belushi is too controlled and also not very believable as a middle-aged conformist, and Aykroyd lacks the demonic energy his role requires.

Neither the script nor the direction provides...