Watch Apprentice to Murder

In the movie Apprentice to Murder, Donald Sutherland plays an embittered and fanatical Pennsylvania Dutch farmer named John Reese. He leads a small, insular religious community in 1926 Pennsylvania with an iron fist, forbidding any form of modernity or worldly influence. Into this milieu comes Chad Lowe's character, Billy Kelly, a young doctor fresh out of medical school who sets up practice in the area.

Despite their initial disagreements and Billy's curiosity about the odd goings-on in Reese's community, he and Reese develop an uneasy friendship. However, things take a dark turn when three children die under mysterious circumstances, and the townspeople begin to suspect that Reese and his followers are practicing witchcraft.

As Billy delves deeper into the case, he discovers that there is more at play than meets the eye. He comes to realize that Reese's obsession with purity and orderliness has driven him to carry out a series of heinous crimes in the name of his twisted religious beliefs.

Mia Sara plays Alice, Billy's love interest who is also drawn into the dark and dangerous world of Reese's cult. As tensions mount and the bodies pile up, Billy and Alice must find a way to stop Reese before he can carry out his ultimate goal - a mass ritual sacrifice that will supposedly cleanse the community of sin.

The film is a slow-burning thriller that relies heavily on atmosphere and tension-building to keep the viewer engaged. The performances are all strong, with Sutherland in particular delivering a chilling portrayal of a man consumed by his own warped ideology. Lowe and Sara also turn in solid performances as the well-meaning protagonists caught up in Reese's web of deceit.

One of the strengths of the film is its depiction of the insular Pennsylvania Dutch community and its traditions. Director Ralph L. Thomas takes great care to create a convincing and immersive setting, complete with authentic dialect and costumes. This attention to detail adds to the sense of unease and foreboding that permeates the story.

However, despite the film's strong performances and setting, it does suffer from some pacing issues. At times it can feel a little too slow, with not enough happening to maintain the tension. Additionally, some of the plot twists and reveals come across as a little contrived or cliche, sapping some of the suspense from the narrative.

Overall, Apprentice to Murder is a solid thriller with strong performances and an intriguing setting. While it may not be perfect, it is definitely worth a watch for fans of slow-burning suspense and dark, twisted tales of religious fanaticism.

Apprentice to Murder is a 1989 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9.