“Apt Pupil” – Fascinated by Hitler’s Germany, a young student (Brad Renfro) discovers the nature of evil from an ex-Nazi. Bryan Singer’s film is a deliciously depressing tale about a fascinating subject, bursting with themes on the nature of evil: “How and why does a person become evil?,” “Do we all have the potential for evil?” It explores the futility of public education and the power of learning through experience. The only misstep is that a crucial plot device is easy to miss.
– John Hansen, NDSU Spectrum, January 1999