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Apt Pupil

Kevin Pollak (Actor), Ian McKellen (Actor), Bryan Singer (Director, Producer) Rated:
R
Format: DVD
4.0 out of 5 stars 215 customer reviews
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro star in 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.

Amazon.com

At the top of his game, Stephen King has a real gift for mining monsters--zero-at-the-bone horror--out of everyday faces and places. Adapted from a novella in the 1982 collection that also spawned Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil looks at first as if it might draw authentically enlightening terror from the soul-cancer that makes blood relations of a Southern California golden boy (Brad Renfro) and an aging Nazi war criminal (Sir Ian McKellen). Turned on by a high-school course about the Holocaust, Todd Bowden (such a bland handle for this top-of-his-class sociopath!) tracks down Kurt Dussander, a former Gestapo killer hiding in the shadows of sunny SoCal. Blackmailing the old man into sharing his firsthand stories of genocide, the teenager trips out on the virtual reality of the monster's memories. There's perverse play here on the way a kid hungry for knowledge can bring a long-retired teacher or grandparent back to life. Truly superb as James Whale in Gods and Monsters, McKellen brings subtlety to this Stephen King creepshow: his dessicated Dussander is like a mummy or vampire revivified by Todd's appetite for atrocity.

Considerable talent intersects in Apt Pupil: It's director Bryan Singer's first film since The Usual Suspects, that enormously popular, rather heartless thriller-machine. The outstanding cast also includes David Schwimmer as a Jewish guidance counselor pathetically impotent in the face of Todd's talent for evil, and Bruce Davison as Todd's All-American Dad, lacking the capacity to even imagine evil. And the story itself has the potential for gazing into the heart of darkness right here in Hometown, U.S.A. But Apt Pupil just turns ugly and unclean when it trivializes its subject, equating Holocaust horrors with slamming a cat into an oven or offing a nosy vagrant (Elias Koteas). Reducing the great spiritual abyss that lies at the center of the 20th century to cheap slasher-movie thrills and chills is reprehensible. Both Todd and the writers of Apt Pupil should have heeded the old saw: When supping with the devil, best use a long spoon. --Kathleen Murphy

Special Features

  • Making-of featurette

Product Details

  • Actors: Kevin Pollak, Ian McKellen, Brad Renfro, Bruce Davidson, David Schwimmer
  • Directors: Bryan Singer
  • Producers: Bryan Singer, Jane Hamsher, Don Murphy
  • Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Subtitles: English
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated:
    R
    Restricted
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: April 13, 1999
  • Run Time: 130 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (215 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 0767821599
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,172 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Apt Pupil" on IMDb

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsStunningly horrific story that grips you from start to finish
By Alan M. Perlman on February 16, 2016
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
This is a stunningly horrific story that grips you from beginning to end. I read the novella and recently saw the movie for the second time. Stephen King is at the top of his game, with a hideously unique premise: an All-American teen becomes obsessed with the Holocaust (the worst atrocities that he couldn't find out about from books), then discovers an actual Nazi commandant living in his neighborhood. In exchange for secrecy, he wants to hear it all, especially the "gooshy" parts. The written version is even more stomach-turning than the movie script. Either one will tell you more than you knew about the horrors of the Holocaust. The boy is an apt pupil indeed and McKellen is terrific as the old bastard who remains a killer to the end.
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5.0 out of 5 starsChilling...Absolutely Chilling
By DogWoman on February 29, 2016
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
I will be totally honest with you. I have wanted to see this movie for a long time. I love everything Stephen King, and this was the one that had alluded me so far. The reason? I wasn't sure I wanted to pay the high price tag for it. I gave in, and watched it. All I can say is, "WOW". I had no idea. It was chilling, and I couldn't stop watching for a minute. Excellent storyline, well acted. I won't question the price tag again...this one was truly worth every penny!
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4.0 out of 5 starsI wanted to love this.....but
By ab326 on September 12, 2016
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
I am a hugh Stephen King fan and have read everything I can find of his. As well as watched many of his movie adaptations over and over. I just was so dissapointed by this one in that there was so much more substance in the book that they could have used for this movie and they jist skimmed right over it. Also I feel there were some important parts that they left out like they always seem to do. I wish they wouls take more time to make the movies match the books a little better. Hopefully they will do better with the Dark Tower adaptation.
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2.0 out of 5 starsThoroughly disappointed
By Joanna on July 26, 2016
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
This movie did not at all have the effect that the book had on me. I feel that they either left the most crucial parts out, or they greatly minimized them. I was incredibly excited to see this movie after reading the novella and I was severely disappointed. This movie was boring and lacked so much emotion and description and detail that the novella had. If I had not read the novella then I would have found it even worse because I at least had a better backstory and insight into the mind of both Todd and Dussander that the novella provided.
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4.0 out of 5 starsDon't read the book if you want to enjoy this
By Applewhite Minyard on July 18, 2015
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
This adaptation of a Stephen King novella works fairly well as a movie, but the ending is vastly changed from the book, cheapening the movie version. If you just watch the movie, you'll get an idea of how complex the plotting is, but with the ending changed so much, it has a completely different overall effect. It's best not to think of the book when watching or you'll just cringe.
The actors are good, especially Ian Mckellan, and for a story with such limited action, it is still suspenseful.
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4.0 out of 5 starsApt Pupil
By Troy boy on March 29, 2013
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
Ian McKellen did this movie before he became nominated for Richard III. It was the pre calling card before the calling card with a great script, a good story about a kid who blackmails an old man for the sins of his past. It could have very easily gone down the slasher road, but chose not to.
The late Brad Renfroe who plays Todd plays the all American boy but you can tell he has something going on behind those eyes, something sinister and McKellen, playing the Nazi, first plays his victim and then later his teacher/controller. Directed by Bryan Singer (who would later direct McKellen in the X Men series) and script based on a Stephen King short story.
There are many horror movies out there, some fun like "Nightmare on elm Street" but the most chilling are those written about the man down the street or kid next door. This is a good one.
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4.0 out of 5 starsA good adaptation of yet another superior short-form Stephen King story
By JHB-4 on April 29, 2015
Format: Blu-ray Verified Purchase
A good adaptation of yet another superior short-form Stephen King story. Well-acted by Sir Ian McKellan and the tragic Brad Renfro. It's a great premise (ghoulish S. California teen discovers Nazi war-criminal on the bus...and wants to know ALL about it!) but the original story falls apart in the third act of the book--- as it does here. Worth seeing for the fine performances and the premise itself.
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5.0 out of 5 starsMasterfully executed!
By R.Suarez on July 16, 2005
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
Based on a Stephen King novel, `Apt pupil' directed by Brian Singer tells the story of a hunted Nazi who is identified by a sixteen year old student. The student rather than reporting to authorities his discovery, attempts to blackmail the old man: he won't tell anyone if he tells him stories from the dead camp he was in charge of.

This incredible thriller takes some surprising twists as the story unfolds. The acting is superb, Ian McKellen as Dussander (the Nazi fugitive) and Brad Renfro deliver some of the most disturbing sequences of the film, from the stories being told by McKellen (excellent flashback scenes) to the sequence in which he wears the Nazi uniform again, the performance delivered by these two actors is one of the highlights of the film.

A story of how evil may present in the less expected ways and how a teenager falls under the clutches of the Nazi killer he thought he had under control. The directorial style of Singer is all over the film, the score composed by John Ottman is the perfect complement in some of the key scenes. Some of Singer `regulars' are here on brief cameos and there is the special appearance of David Schwimmer (even though he tries to portray a serious character, the stigma of Ross Geller won't leave him) Bottom-line, an excellent thriller filled with surprising twists, excellent sequences from the Nazi's dead camps and a shocking ending.

The DVD comes in both Widescreen and Full screen versions. Special features in the DVD are a `making of' documentary, cast and bios and the theatrical trailer. English 5.1 and Dolby surround available with subtitles in English only.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWhy so expensive?

Why is this DVD so expensive? Everywhere I look, it goes for several hundred dollars.

Published 1 month ago by Stephen Lange
5.0 out of 5 starsStephen King Does It Again!!!! All 5 Stars

It is definitely a heart-stopping thriller...as advertised. And what superb acting by Sir Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro. Read more

Published 1 month ago by PR GUY
4.0 out of 5 starsgood thriller

Very good movie

Published 4 months ago by Dove'
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great movie. Have to love Stephen King

Published 4 months ago by Kenneth Strickland
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Ordered to watch with my 18 year old. It opens area for discussion.

Published 5 months ago by Erika Daigle
5.0 out of 5 starsawesome "

Every high school age person should see this movie. I've watched it with two of my 17 year olds and the reaction was "intense, awesome "

Published 5 months ago by Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 starsNot much of a fan but it was ok again would not reccommend this...

I saw the entire movie is was ok!

Published 5 months ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsScary Without Even Trying....

One of the best roles you will ever see Ian McKellen in.....Forget about Lord Of The Rings....Genuinely scary and he portrays the essence of evil.... Read more

Published 6 months ago by R. A. Yielding
2.0 out of 5 starsNo thrills here for me

OK, I understand that this is meant to be a psychological thriller. I know that it is a mind game between teenager Todd Bowden and the Nazi war criminal Otto Denker. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Donald J. Wurzelbacher
2.0 out of 5 starsDark movie

I love Brad Renfro, but this movie was too dark for me. I still watched it a couple times only because of Brad Renfro.

Published 7 months ago by Katie

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