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IMDb > Apt Pupil (1998)
Apt Pupil
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Apt Pupil (1998) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 39 | slideshow) Videos (see all 8)
Apt Pupil (1998) -- A boy blackmails his neighbour after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal.
Apt Pupil (1998) -- A boy blackmails his neighbour after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal.
Apt Pupil (1998) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   15,500 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Stephen King (novel)
Brandon Boyce (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Apt Pupil on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 October 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
If you don't believe in the existence of evil, you've got a lot to learn.
Plot:
A boy blackmails his neighbour after suspecting him to be a Nazi war criminal. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
5 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(33 articles)
User Reviews:
If you read the novella, don't bother more (239 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Brad Renfro ... Todd Bowden

Ian McKellen ... Kurt Dussander

Joshua Jackson ... Joey
Mickey Cottrell ... Sociology Teacher

Michael Reid MacKay ... Nightmare Victim
Ann Dowd ... Monica Bowden

Bruce Davison ... Richard Bowden

James Karen ... Victor Bowden
Marjorie Lovett ... Agnes Bowden
David Cooley ... Gym Teacher
Blake Anthony Tibbetts ... Teammate

Heather McComb ... Becky Trask
Katherine Malone ... Student
Grace Sinden ... Secretary

David Schwimmer ... Edward French
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
L'élève doué (Canada: French title)
Un élève doué - Été de corruption (France)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for scenes of strong violence, language and brief sexuality.
Runtime:
111 min | Argentina:112 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby SR
Certification:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
One of the pictures of Dussander as during in the years of World War II was actually Heinrich Himmler but was digitally replaced with Ian McKellen's face. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When Todd is walking down the hall to give Kurt Dussander the costume, the dolly track is visible on the floor in the hall. more
Quotes:
Todd Bowden: What the hell did you do that for? Going to my school, pretending to be my grandfather? I was this close to turning you in!
Kurt Dussander: But you didn't. Didn't you like the way we put Mr. French on? I saved you from being suspended.
Todd Bowden: Well don't forget, I could walk right in there any time and pick up that phone!
Kurt Dussander: And do what? Do you really think that I would just stand by and let you turn me in without dragging you under with me? You American's self confidence is so bloated that you have forgotten the reality of the situation. 90,000 people died in that camp. To the whole world, I am a monster...
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Too Much Of Nothing more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
32 out of 49 people found the following review useful.
If you read the novella, don't bother, 19 April 1999
Author: Wizard-8 from Victoria, BC

I read the novella in high school, and I found it scary, disturbing, and a real grabber - I couldn't put it down until I was done.

As for the movie version, I'm sorry to say it doesn't work. While there have been much worse Stephen King adaptations, this is still pretty weak. Someone else here said it's been sugarcoated, and I agree. It's been watered down so much, that character's actions that were easy to understand in the book become "Whaa - why did he do that?" here. The ending is the worst part - though I can understand why they may not have been able to recreate the novella's original ending onscreen, couldn't they have thought of a new ending that was better than the one they used here?

The acting is good, one of the few things that works here.

In short: if you have read the novella, do NOT watch this movie - you'll be horrified in a way the filmmakers didn't intend. The positive comments here seem to come from people who haven't read the novella. I still wouldn't recommend this movie even for non-readers, but if you must watch this movie, I strongly urge you to read the novella after you've seen the movie. It'll really open your eyes (in more ways than one), and you'll see how much better the movie could have been.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Apt Pupil (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I couldn't finish watching it. storey_12
Confused C3194
A terrible film. jeremy3
A quick question Dreamweb1
Dialog at the end SGJan81
i cried . . blondambition1223
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