Screen_Blitz Stephen King's novella 'Apt Pupil' carries an interesting enough concept to grip the attention of readers who hold significant curiosity about the infamous Holocaust that took place during World War II at the hands of the German Nazi Party. It is understandable why director Bryan Singer would make this choice for a cinematic entry. After all, it is hard to exclude which literary works by King make a good, if not overtly promising qualification for a cinematic affair. The problem here however, is that Singer's rendition of King's novella doesn't quite capture the atmosphere and tension to make it a vehicle for genuine thrills, nor does it provides sufficient social commentary on Nazism or the related subject matter to fuel the atmosphere of its brooding story. With only a darkly engrossing performance by Ian McKellen playing the primary antagonist to support it, the film at least carries its absorbing subject material. But sadly it is not enough to save this film from the lack of tension and thrills it pervades. Set in 1984, this film follows 16-year old Todd Bowden (played by Brad Renfro) who crosses ties with an elderly man named Kurt Dussander (played by Ian McKellen) who he learns to be a former member of the Nazi Regime during WWII. The two form a mixed bond through Dussander's stories tackling his experience as a Nazi during the Holocaust. But as Todd fascination with Dussander grow stronger, he exhibits a gradual change in his normally friendly personality.Any film dealing with a topic such as the Holocaust often scores for a deeply somber ride, even when the plot doesn't actually take place in time period or locations of the atrocious events. As this film focuses on a modern day tale dealing with a young high school teen and his relationship wit a former Nazi member rather than the grisliness of the Holocaust, it is clear that the plot holds potential at providing an intelligent, tension-fueled story. Unfortunately, this film not only falls short of effort to accomplish an captivating story, but runs low on thrills and tension to make a gripping experience. In other words, the film leaves almost no room for crucial social commentary on Nazism and the atrocities of the mass extermination of Jews. The story proceeds as the main character's forms a tight relationship with Ian McKellen's character who indulges him in his past experience in mass slaughter of Jews under the Nazi regime. In the process, the young man experiences an unpleasant change in his personality including his alienation from his friends and family. It's an interesting idea, but it never quite lands. And the attempts at providing any sort of tension or suspense come to feeble results. Though Ian McKellen may provide an enthralling portrayal as the man with an eerily dark past, it does very little to redeem the film from the tensionless environment it proceeds. There are some thoroughly shocking moments such as an attempted slaughter of a cat and a gruesome murder of a man trapped in basement, but nothing that lights fire on its brooding psychological atmosphere. In the end, it makes you wonder what exactly director Bryan Singer was trying to get across when making this film.Apt Pupil is a disappointing psychological thriller that sheds light on a compelling concept but squanders it on a dull, tensionless atmosphere with little substance to be offered. In short, it carries strong performances by Ian McKellan and his young co-star Brad Renfro, but the final product overall is half-baked thriller that is almost instantly forgettable after you reach the end credits.

Kirpianuscus more than a good adaptation, it is a real useful history lesson. about Nazi regime. about the temptation of the evil. and about teenagers. like each Stephen King adaptation, it is far to be the expected one. nuances, details are lost. but the message becomes more clear and dark. because it has the chance of a good director and perfect actors. because Ian McKellen explores in wise manner entire potential of his character. and Brad Renfro redefine the portrait of typical teenager, the passion about a subject, the curiosity, the conversion in part of chosen theme. story of confrontation, with equal forces, it is one of the most useful films for a young man to understand the essence of totalitarian regime. and that does it more than a good film.

Python Hyena Apt. Pupil (1998): Dir: Bryan Singer / Cast: Ian McKellen, Brad Renfro, David Schwimmer, Bruce Davison, Elias Koteas: Film contains one alarming scene where a kid orders a Nazi to uniform himself and march until tension builds to a halt. The kid is the Apt. pupil and the lesson is control but what does he hope to accomplish? He shows up on the Nazi's doorstep and blackmails with supposed files. Eventually the Nazi tries to roast a cat in the oven while the kid mashes a broken winged pigeon with a basketball. Chilling work by director Bryan Singer who also made The Usual Suspect. Violent outcome with pointless scenes such as the kid's failed grades and the Nazi poising as his grandfather. Then a begger lands in his basement with a knife in his back. With the Nazi's heart failure, the kid bludgeons the begger with a shovel. Ian McKellen is strong as the Nazi who attempts to gain control over this situation only to run into greater conflicts. Brad Renfro is unreadable as the deranged kid who obviously lacks proper discipline. David Schwimmer is miscast as the principal who is also subjected to blackmail. Bruce Davison is cardboard as Renfro's father who will not likely receive any Father of the Year award. Elias Koteas plays a homeless guy subjected to murder and a cover-up. The theme is control, which eluded the screenwriter. Score: 3 ½ / 10

Sean Lamberger Ian McKellan is a Nazi war criminal hiding long-term in suburban America. Four decades after the war, a bright high school student with a fascination about WWII marks him on a bus ride and the two embark on a lengthy game of one-upsmanship. Oddly, the kid seems the more villainous of the two, though McKellan is himself far from heroic. I can't shake the sense that the concept was more daring than the film in this case. Featuring a Nazi in a decidedly grey light is a different take, for sure, but I felt like the filmmakers were always too afraid to go anywhere truly risqué with that material, and the core relationship between the two leads is toothless and pantomimed. Maybe that can be primarily chalked up to acting - Brad Renfro, who plays the kid, is positively grating in the role - but even removing that from the equation doesn't completely settle my stomach. It's a film that dances and loiters, but rarely has much to say of genuine power or meaning; wannabe edgy, using the taboo of an old war uniform to mask a serious lack of substance. Even the big reveal at the end, when everything comes apart at the seams, is hollow, telegraphed and half an hour behind schedule.