Less Than Zero (film)

Less Than Zero is a 1987 American drama film very loosely based on Bret Easton Ellis novel of the same name. The film stars Andrew McCarthy as Clay, a college freshman returning home for Christmas to spend time with his exgirlfriend Blair Jami Gertz and his friend Julian Robert Downey, Jr., who is also a drug addict. The film presents a look at the culture of wealthy, decadent youth in Los Angeles.

Clay Easton Andrew McCarthy is a straitlaced college freshman on the east coast, who returns home to Los Angeles, California, for Christmas to find things very different from the way he left them. His high school girlfriend, Blair Jami Gertz, has become addicted to drugs and has been having sex with his high school best friend, Julian Wells Robert Downey, Jr.. Julian, whose life has gone downhill after his startup record company falls apart, has become a drug addict. Hes also been cut off by his family for stealing to support his habit and reduced to homelessness. Julian is also being hassled by his dealer, an old classmate named Rip James Spader, for a debt of 50,000 that he owes to him.Clays relationship with Blair rekindles and Julians behavior becomes more volatile. 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 off the debt. After suffering through a night of being sick from not being able to score drugs and hiding from Rip, Julian decides to quit and begs his father Nicholas Pryor to help him. He then tells Rip the next day his plans for sobriety, which Rip does not believe Rip lures Julian back into doing drugs and hooking. Clay finds Julian and rescues him after a violent confrontation with Rip and his henchman, Clay, Julian and Blair all escape and begin the long drive to the desert so Julian can attempt to achieve sobriety once and for all. However, the damage has already been done the next morning Julian dies from heart failure in the car. ........

Source: Wikipedia