A decent film that doesn't dare to go where the novella goes. It's clear in King's story that Todd is a very screwed up kid well before he meets Denker. He's probably a burgeoning sociopath, and his interest in holocaust material is largely sadistic. (Especially disturbing because novella Todd is only 13.) This kinship between two psychopaths (although they hate each other, there's a grudging respect) is what makes the story interesting. In the film, Todd just seems very curious, doesn't realise what he's getting into, and ends up warped by Denker's influence. A safer and more commercially palatable choice but way less interesting.

Ian McKellen is believable in his role and this performance carries the film. An okay movie.

King's novella ties the elements of the story together tighter, but for what it is 'Apt Pupil' is an exceedingly disturbing film thanks to the strong writing of its source material.

As disturbing as many of its scenes can be, this one is consistently captivating, and leaves the audience desperate to find out just what will happen next. An excellent and suspenseful thriller.

The movie drags a little longer than it should and also the plot does not keep you interested after a while. Nothing to think twice about.

Kinda dated, released over twenty-five years ago and WWII Nazis aren't all that relevant anymore. The dynamic involved, an old Nazi and his relationship with a high school aged boy, is just an odd watch that had no deeper meaning or lesson to be learned.

I feel like they marketed the movie wrong. I was expecting a thriller leaning closer to horror and it was leaning towards more of a drama for me. Brad renfro was great in it though!

The novella APT PUPIL from a Stephen King collection DIFFERENT SEASONS is by turns, disturbing, absorbing, & unpleasant, but the ironic thing regarding the film is that it is more effective, IMO, by playing down some of the more atrocious elements in King‘s otherwise involving narrative. No spoilers from me here so one would have to experience both the story & the film to compare the relative eventual impact that is presented. Singer‘s film is in many ways a bit more subtle than the short book it's taken from & what I gather King accepted the changes Singer made. It's a worthy follow up to Singer‘s THE USUAL SUSPECTS but the imaginative construct of that film is both more novel & original. Still. I feel, APT PUPIL, rather underrated, holds considerable merit & both McKellen & Renfro add greatly to its effective atmosphere. John Ottman who edited & scored both films contributes a musical score that without viewing the credits is instantly recognizable as from the composer of THE USUAL SUSPECTS.

Oggi si potrebbe fare un film completamente aderente al racconto di King, ma questo film è una trasposizione eccellente che allude laddove non si poteva esplicitare.

Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro should be enough to carry this character driven story, but the stakes feel small and it's not well directed. Should have been a hit with the material and acting power in the movie.

I remember reading the original Stephen King story years ago and thinking it was the meanest thing he ever wrote. Just dark and depressing. This film captures that, even though the ending has been changed. You'll walk away from this one feeling morose and hopeless. It's very well filmed and directed, absolutely top quality. And Ian McKellen's performance is impressive. But what a downer!

Apt Pupil is a creepy and disturbing thriller that works owing to Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro's acting. It sometimes gets a little absurd and takes its insane plot a bit too far, but it's a chilling watch all the way through.

An adaptation of a lesser-known Stephen King story, and one that doesn't contain the elements you'd expect from the author, Apt Pupil was, to me at least, significantly better than the critical consensus would have you believe. Following a boy played by the late Brad Renfro, whose upper lip meant he was destined to play snarky highschoolers, who discovers that a former Nazi concentration camp guard is living in his neighbourhood, and decides to investigate. Ian McKellen makes a suitably charming and menacing villain, who keeps our lead on his toes as he goes back and forth between divulging war stories and making veiled threats. The relationship between them is bizarre to say the least, but the acting and directing keep it believable, even if some scenes are a bit outlandish. The personality transformation of our main character doesn't so much descend as it does plummet, and this makes for some typical Hollywood fare, including a dead body needing to be covered up and a final act confrontation that's left ambiguous. I can't see it begin reassessed as an overlooked classic in the future, but I did enjoy watching it, and if the subject matter appeals to you, then I'd say you should give it a look.

Clever. I admire this young mans devilish aptitude. He would have made a perfect SS officer. The ending is a little weak sauce, stuffing the body would have been more appropriate, signaling his transformation to adoption of the old SS officers persona.

Who has the power? Who has the control? Who is more evil? Who will survive at the end of this fantastic movie.

Disturbing but very well acted and directed ! It demonstrates that Parents are often the last ones to understand their sons and daughters, too much distracted by their own way of living... Evil exists!

It follows the book fairly well, leaving out a lot of back story as I'm finding in most of these King adaptations. The Nazi character steals the show with a great performance by the actor. The kid slightly annoys me but he was annoying in the book as well so maybe that was by design.

They tried to impress but failed

Terrifying and incredibly well acted.

Fantastic performances by Sir Ian McKellen and the late Brad Renfro. Particularly disturbing the old nazi portrayed by McKellen. A must-see for any Stephen King's fan, and of good movie-making.