Apt Pupil

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Prodigiously bright high school student Todd Bowden (Brad Renfro) confronts his own capacity for evil when he becomes obsessed with the gruesome memories of an old Nazi war criminal (Ian McKellen) hiding under an assumed identity. Based on a story by Stephen King, Apt Pupil shows all the strengths and weaknesses of its creator. The story is chilling — and timely — and presents its horrors with a mix of frightening intensity and silly simplification. Director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) keeps tight control, veering the movie more towards the former, but in the end gives way to contrivance. Also with David Schwimmer. Presented in 2.35 widescreen, with pan-and-scan on flip side, and both DD 5.1 and Dolby 2.0. Includes a making-of featurette.
—Gregory P. Dorr

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