Review of Apt Pupil (1998) by Johnny T — 26 Feb 2012

Not all the plot developments ring true, but moments carry a real chill - even in a coma, McKellen can terrify a fellow patient almost to death - and it has more than enough thought-provoking material to command your interest. This brutal film borders on the brilliant. Beautifully structured and edited, with a chilling central performance by Ian McKellen and an exceptional score by John Ottman, who also edited the picture, it churns up emotions and leaves the viewer feeling stunned and depleted. With another powerful and suggestive performance from McKellen as a retired monster who reaches out to connect with an all-American youth, Apt Pupil feels a little like the dark mirror image of Gods And Monsters. David Schwimmer wears an unfortunate moustache as a nosy school counsellor and not all the plot developments ring true, but moments carry a real chill - even in a coma, McKellen can terrify a fellow patient almost to death. The inevitable gay subtext, stretching to an extraordinary seduction-murder scene with Elias Koteas as a would-be blackmailing tramp, is unstressed as the film goes beyond sexuality to plumb even deeper waters. Like The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil is readable as an interrogation of the Devil.

VERDICT: "High-Quality Stuff" - [Positive Reaction] This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent. (Films that are rated 3.5 or 4 stars).