Wise Blood: Anyone else super creeped out by Hazel Motes?

Okay, horror peeps, I just got done watching "Wise Blood" (1979) and I need to unpack this. I know it's technically a drama/Southern Gothic thing, but that movie is seriously unsettling. Like, way more disturbing than some jump-scare filled slasher flicks I've seen. Brad Dourif is AMAZING, obviously, but Hazel Motes just gives me the willies. His whole obsession with preaching the "Church Without Christ" is just… off. Especially when he's trying to convince everyone about nothing. Maybe because it's so raw and desperate? I don't know. I was especially squicked out when he blinded himself. Talk about commitment to a belief system! I actually had to look away for a minute. And then there's that other character, Enoch Emery, who is just plain WEIRD. I'm not entirely sure what he really had to do with anything, but his fascination with the "new Jesus" (that mummy-like thing) made me gag. So my question is: Am I the only one deeply disturbed by this movie? Or are there any other "Wise Blood" fans (or should I say, traumatized viewers) out there? What are your thoughts on the disturbing undertones and overall creep-factor? I'm particularly interested in why Hazel does what he does - does the movie make it clear?