Apt Pupil

"If you don't believe in the existence of evil, you've got a lot to learn"

1998 1h 47m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 766

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

One day in 1984, Todd Bowden, a brilliant high school boy fascinated by the history of Nazism, stumbles across an old man whose appearance resembles that of Kurt Dussander, a wanted Nazi war criminal. A month later, Todd decides to knock on his door.

“If you don't believe in the existence of evil, you've got a lot to learn”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Ian McKellen
Kurt Dussander
Brad Renfro
Todd Bowden
Bruce Davison
Richard Bowden
Elias Koteas
Archie
Joe Morton
Dan Richler
Jan Tříska
Isaac Weiskopf
Michael Byrne
Ben Kramer
Heather McComb
Becky Trask

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Brandon Boyce
Languages: English, German
Countries: France, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 63% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, German.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bryan Singer, shot by Newton Thomas Sigel. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Ottman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter S. Elliot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro and Bruce Davison carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bryan Singer directs. Newton Thomas Sigel behind the camera. John Ottman scores. Peter S. Elliot cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in France, United States of America. Dialogue in English, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 63% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
228 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, German.
4International production across 2 countries: France, United States of America.
5Directed by Bryan Singer, shot by Newton Thomas Sigel. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by John Ottman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Peter S. Elliot shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro and Bruce Davison carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "If you don't believe in the existence of evil, you've got a lot to learn".
10IMDB entry: tt0118636 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 9 themes, including "high school", "based on novel or book", "secret identity", "troubled teen".