The next day, Julian tells Rip his plans for sobriety, which Rip does not accept.

After suffering through a night of overdose and hiding from Rip, Julian decides to quit and begs his father to help him. His addiction is worsening and since he does not have the money to pay off his debt, Rip forces him to become a prostitute to work it off. Julian is also being hassled by his dealer, a former classmate named Rip, for a debt of $50,000 that he owes to him.Ĭlay's relationship with Blair rekindles and Julian's behavior becomes more volatile. He has also been cut off by his family for stealing to support his habit and reduced to homelessness. Julian, whose life has gone downhill after his startup record company fell apart, has become a drug addict. His high school girlfriend and now model, Blair, has become addicted to cocaine and has been having sex with Clay's high school best friend, Julian Wells. He insists that the film bears no resemblance to his novel and felt that it was miscast with the exceptions of Downey and James Spader.Ĭlay Easton is a straight-laced college freshman on the East Coast of the United States, who returns home to Los Angeles for Christmas to find things very different from the way he left them. Ellis hated the film initially but his view of it later softened. Less than Zero received mixed reviews among critics. The film presents a look at the culture of wealthy, decadent youth in Los Angeles. The film stars Andrew McCarthy as Clay, a college freshman returning home for Christmas to spend time with his ex-girlfriend Blair ( Jami Gertz) and his friend Julian ( Robert Downey Jr.), both of whom have become drug addicts.

Less than Zero is a 1987 American drama film directed by Marek Kanievska, loosely based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis.

Less than zero ellis