An interestingly odd, if not too successful little folktale curio set in Pennsylvania (although it was shot in Norway) in the 1920s as a teenage boy Billy comes under the influence of a backwoods faith healer Dr. Reese who begins to educate him as he becomes drawn to his mystical charms. But Billy finds himself dragged into strange events which end in terrifying results as they believe the local hermit has the motive and power to cause the devastating blight affecting the small village.

Sometimes being unique and incredibly offbeat just doesn't cut it, if it doesn't entirely deliver the goods. I wanted to like "Apprentice to Murder" a lot more than I did, but I felt like it came up short by not completely coming to life with its dangerous predicament. It never really balances its sensationalised mystic concepts, tending to rely on its character relationships (especially the complicated connection between the boy and the faith healer),humdrum dramatic weight and slow- winding story build-up (some episodic filler) where it can have its flat spells. The most fascinating façade I thought was that of the hermit, which comes across very secondary to everything else, but is the main piece that holds everything together. Still its premise is innovative with a lyrical script that for most part engages with its busy themes.

It's low-key in its approach, which is not a problem but it never really delves into the strange happenings and vivid special effects that seem to torture the faith healer. We get the usual supernatural occurrences, that in the end all of this magic might just be that of a disillusion. But this is supposedly inspired by true events involving a pow-pow preacher and his faith in George Hohmann's "Long Lost Friend" that eventually led to murder. The performances stand up very well with Chad Lowe's responsible turn holding his own alongside a charismatically believable Donald Sutherland as the unorthodox faith healer. He does command the screen in a subtle manner emitting somewhat a creepy undertone. The gorgeous Mia Sara doesn't get all that much to do and Eddie Jones also shows up.

Director R. L Thomas does a sensational job presenting strikingly authentic period details, but also the moody score along with the elegant cinematography are instrumental in crafting enticingly symbolic imagery and an effective atmosphere of a god fearing time engulfing rural communities.

I have to admit, seeing the younger brother of Rob Lowe ... well if you know the better known actor, you will have this eerie feeling of something familiar. Same thing went on here for me. And while he is quite bland here, some may argue that the character/role Chad is playing, is helped by that performance. Tough to say and only you yourself can make up your mind - no pun intended.

This being based on true events and persons, but changed quite a bit as people on the Blu Ray release say. Quite intriguing story and what a performance by Sutherland. With him there are not two opinions about his portrayal. A strange little thriller (drama?) that can, but will not be most peoples cup of tea - the pacing alone will annoy most of them.

Still worth a watch if you like slow creeping horror ...

A ridiculously weird and boring psychological thriller has Donald Sutherland and Chad Lowe teaming together to commit a bunch of murders as a part of some religious scheme. Making absolutely no sense and a complete waste of 90 minutes, the script fails to generate any kind of suspense and just becomes more perplexing as it goes on. It isn't until an hour that you get the sense that something less than Godly is happening when Sutherland appears to be in some sort of altercation with an evil demon. We do see visions of some sort of apparition, transparent spirits of dead humans sauntering around Sutherland, but it's not even creepy, just eye rolling.

Best known for her role as Faye Dunaway's secretary in "Mommie Dearest", Rutanya Alda starts off with great potential as Lowe's abused mother, and Eddie Jones is frightening as her abusive, alcoholic husband. Mia Sara as Lowe's girlfriend and Minnie Gentry as some sort of blind voodoo woman don't add much in supporting roles. The Pennsylvania countryside (actually Norway!) is pretty, but you do not go to see a psychological thriller for the scenery.

This is allegedly based on a true story, but I couldn't believe one minute of it so much of the alleged truth has obviously been altered, making it pointless and a complete misfire. Sutherland does his best to be commanding, but all he does is emote overly dramatic nonsense, making me wish that the director had reigned him in. This is the type of film that will frustrate you to the point where you really stop concentrating on the story and focus on just getting to the end which basically just lays there. I usually pass films onto friends I don't intend to watch again, but all I can do here is toss out the disc and mention it to them as a film to completely avoid in spite of our admiration for Sutherland.