Apt Pupil

Name: Apt Pupil
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: October 23, 1998
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Brad Renfro, Ian McKellen

1998

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	Your Score
6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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Apt Pupil

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) | Release Date: October 23, 1998 | R

Starring: Brad Renfro, Ian McKellen

Summary: A dark drama about a sixteen-year-old honor student who recognizes an old man living in his hometown as a hunted Nazi. Compelled to reveal the secrets of his death camp past to earn the boy's silence, the German fugitive derives a sinister scheme to implicate the teenager in a dangerous psychological game. (Sony)

Director: Bryan Singer

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Dallas Observer Jean Oppenheimer

This brutal film borders on the brilliant. Beautifully structured and edited, with a chilling central performance by Ian McKellen and an exceptional score by John Ottman, who also edited the picture, it churns up emotions and leaves the viewer feeling stunned and depleted. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Brought off with such skill and commitment that there isn't any time to snicker at its obviousness. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Both actors play their roles so trickily that tensions escalate until the horror grows unimaginatively gothic. Read full review

Rick Groen

No matter how you judge it -- as a strict morality play or simply a psychological thriller -- Apt Pupil just doesn't make the grade. Read full review

David Sterritt

This sensationalistic tale doesn't delve very far into the issues it raises. Read full review

David Ansen

In the end, artifice overwhelms art. Apt Pupil is too serious to work as a genre movie, and too contrived to be taken seriously. [12 October 1998]

David Denby

Overwrought and unpleasant nonsense. Read full review

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User Reviews

RDalvi

Mar 17, 2007

Under-appreciated gem by Singer. McKellen is very nice and Renfro is surprisingly good. Very taut and brilliantly done thriller.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

FadeBlack

Apr 19, 2017

Delightful, very interesting movie, albeit twisted and a ride into depravity at parts. Quite a bit underrated too, somewhere between a 7 and a 7.5 at least.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Jsmith009

Dec 5, 2019

Pretty chilling and suspenseful. Good acting storyline and production. Deserves a 7 but I'm afraid to rate it too high for obvious reasons.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MargretH.

May 23, 2007

Worst novella turned book ever.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

harvdog03

Nov 7, 2018

Pretty dark and twisted but alright. I didnt turn it off so that was a plus.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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