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.
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.
The film primarily explores the psychological corruption of an individual by the allure of evil, focusing on moral decay and manipulation rather than promoting specific political ideologies or offering societal solutions.
The film features a cast that is primarily traditional, with no explicit race or gender swaps of traditionally white roles. Its narrative focuses on psychological themes without offering a critical portrayal of traditional identities or making DEI themes central to its story.
The film includes a closeted gay character, Mr. French, whose sexuality is exploited by the manipulative protagonist, Todd. Mr. French's fear of exposure and subsequent torment results in his suicide, depicting his queer identity as a source of vulnerability and leading to a tragic, unredeemed end.
The film's narrative unequivocally condemns the historical persecution and murder of Jewish people during the Holocaust. While not directly depicting Jewish characters or practices in the present, the film frames the victims with profound sympathy, aligning with the dignity of those targeted by bigotry.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The film "Apt Pupil" (1998) is an adaptation of Stephen King's novella. A review of the main and supporting characters reveals no instances where a character's gender was changed from the source material for the screen adaptation.
Based on the source novella by Stephen King, the film's main characters, including Todd Bowden and Kurt Dussander, are portrayed by actors whose race aligns with their established or implied racial background in the original material. No instances of a character canonically or historically established as one race being portrayed as a different race were identified.
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources