Apprentice to Murder (1988)

February 26, 1988 (CA) • Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller • 97m

Overview

Pennsylvania, 1928. Billy Kelly, a sixteen-year old boy, meets a mysterious traveler claiming he's the messenger of God. Falling under under the spell of this "doctor" Reese, he will soon discover Reese has murderous plans for his future. Based on a true story.

Director

Ralph L. Thomas

Writers

Wesley Moore, Allan Scott

Top Billed

Donald Sutherland

Keywords

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Where to watch

Free / Included

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Top Billed Cast

Donald Sutherland

John Reese

Chad Lowe

Billy Kelly

Mia Sara

Alice Spangler

Knut Husebø

Lars Hoeglin

Rutanya Alda

Elma Kelly

Eddie Jones

Tom Kelly

Mark Burton

Clay Myers

Adrian Sparks

Irwin Myers

Tiger Haynes

Rufus

Minnie Gentry

Mam Isobel

Blain Fairman

Foreman

Mert Hatfield

Sheriff

Keith Edwards

Cop 1

Chris Langman

Patterson

Lars Hiller

Prouty

Ed Wiley

Mr. Krieglander

Agnete G. Haaland

Mrs. Krieglander

Irina Eidsvold Tøien

Jessica

Bembo Davies

Factory Worker

Tor Hansen

Factory Worker

Michael Haley

Jailer

Edel Eckblad

Old Woman

Jon Torstein Bakken

First Student at Frat House (uncredited)

Crew

Ralph L. Thomas

Director

Wesley Moore

Writer

Allan Scott

Writer

Michael Haley

Associate Producer

Michael Rauch

Executive Producer

John H. Williams

Co-Producer

Roger Corman

Executive Producer

Howard K. Grossman

Producer

Kelvin Pike

Director of Photography

Derek Meddings

Special Effects

Patrick McMahon

Editor

Elisabeth Seley

Costume Design

Robin Grantham

Makeup Supervisor

Marc Boyle

Stunts

Mark Meddings

Special Effects

Roy Spencer

Special Effects

Charles Gross

Music

Gregory Bolton

Production Design

Pearly E. Grindvold

Set Decoration

Sandy Nervig

Editor

Lynn Kressel

Casting

Wendy Anderson

Assistant Makeup Artist

Robert Cybula

Hairstylist

Svein Toreg

Production Manager

Torill Ek

Assistant Director

Jarl Erik Fimland

Property Master

Dagfinn Kleppan

Scenic Artist

Bo Lundgren

Carpenter

Øystein Michelsen

Assistant Property Master

Age Scarborough

Painter

Tone Tjeinsland

Set Dresser

Jan Brodin

Sound Recordist

Jean Clark

Boom Operator

Jack Cooley

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Nancy Crumley

Apprentice Sound Editor

Darrell Hanzalik

ADR Editor

Doris Soraci

Assistant Sound Editor

Jess Soraci

Sound Editor

Paul Zydel

ADR Engineer

Jo Banoun

Gaffer

Harry Eckford

Grip

Rune Hammersland

Electrician

Jamie Harcourt

Camera Operator

John Harman

Gaffer

Ketil Hervik

Electrician

Arnold Iverson

Grip

Gunnar Maras

Grip

Steve Parker

Focus Puller

Peer M. Rohrer

Clapper Loader

Dominic Shiach

Grip

Tor Hansen

Extras Casting

Tracy Lilienfield

Casting Assistant

Ragnhild Nygaard

Location Casting

Anne Hamre

Wardrobe Master

Hege Nielsen

Wardrobe Assistant

Susan Barnet

Assistant Editor

Chip Cronkite

Associate Editor

Vibeke Arntzen

Location Manager

Madeleine Fant

Script Supervisor

Peter Johannesson

Driver

Tore Ledahl

Transportation Captain

Harry Tellevik

Driver

Per Aarvik

Production Assistant

Vibeke Bjorvik

Production Assistant

Joan Haley

Production Accountant

Anita K. Halvorsen

Production Assistant

Trine Reichelt

Production Assistant

Mette Nora Saetre

Assistant Accountant

Monica Waaler

Production Office Coordinator

Lisa Young

Producer's Assistant

Richard A. Denholtz

Thanks

Arthur M. Dinitz

Thanks

Richard E. Sturgis

Thanks

Reviews

Wuchak

⭐ 7/10

October 10, 2025

**_Caught between a charismatic healer and a beautiful girl in late 1920s’ Pennsylvania_**

Shot in September-November, 1986, this is a psychological drama and supernatural thriller based on a true story that took place in the Pennsylvania Dutch community southeast of York in late November, 1928. The case involved the practice of Braucherei or powwow, which was their brand of folk medicine. The book “The Long Lost Friend” was their manual, written by powwower Johann Georg Hohman (published in 1820).

Donald Sutherland is effective as the fascinating healer with a Christian garnishment while Chad Lowe works well as the naïve protagonist in a John Boy Walton kind of way. Meanwhile Mia Sara is stunning, fresh off her success with “Ferris Bueller's Day Off.”

The tone is lyrical with slight supernatural bits curiously thrown into the mix. It’s an oddity that makes comparisons difficult, but there are fragments reminiscent of films like “Rachel, Rachel,” “The Exorcist,” “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” “The Seventh Sign,” “The Apostle” and “The Skeleton Key.” This ranks with the least of ’em due to the ambiguity of the proceedings, but there’s enough good here for those interested.

Speaking of the supernatural bits, are they for real or is it a depiction of events through a schizophrenic lens? The movie leaves it up to the viewer to decide.

I should add that Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs are included in the story, but they’re oddly called “hexagrams” for some unknown reason.

It runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in Nygardsparken in Bergen, southwest Norway, as well as Osteroy, just north of there. The actual house in the story stands to this day in southeast Pennsylvania and is, more specifically, located at Rehmeyer's Hollow, which is located 14 miles southeast of York, just a couple miles east of I-83.

GRADE: B-/B

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

—

Revenue

$466,369

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Apprentice to Murder (1988)

Wesley Moore, Allan Scott

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Wuchak

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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