10 Horror Movies That Had No Right To Be This Good

It's safe to say that Stephen King doesn't have consistent success on the big screen.

You might hear that and think, "well, that's not true; what about The Shinning? Or The Shawshank Redemption?" and yes, those are great films. However, they're only the tip of the iceberg for his work, as there's a seething underbelly of trite movies based on his projects, the majority of which suck.

By all accounts, this thriller should be one of them, as the concept is painfully sensitive, and the source material is one of King's less remembered works. Yet, it's a compelling, shocking and altogether brutal watch.

Apt Pupil tells the story of a young man (Todd Bowden) who has an unhealthy fascination with everything macabre. His unnatural obsessions lead him to a fugitive Nazi war criminal (Kurt Dussander) living in his neighbourhood. Rather than revealing the man's identity, he blackmails him into retelling his atrocities.

The film is unsettling and filled with tension. A lot of this comes from the acting, with Brad Renfro as Todd and Ian McKellen as Kurt. McKellen especially goes against his typecast to play one of his most shocking and unsettling roles ever.

It's one of the more underappreciated of King's movie repertoire, as it explores some dark subject matter and always keeps you on edge.