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Drama MIFFest 2017 · Best New Director Editor's Pick

Apprentice Review (2016) — 76% Celluloid Score

Directed by Boo Junfeng · 2016 ·

Short answer

Is Apprentice worth watching?

Yes. Apprentice (2016) earns a 76% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics (88%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (78%). See the 4 inputs.

76%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

88% Editorial Rating
78% Audience snapshot · excluded
74 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.6
6.9 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 36m
Age rating
15 (UK) · M18 (Singapore)
Cast
Fir Rahman , Wan Hanafi Su , Mastura Ahmad , Boon Pin Koh , Nickson Cheng , Crispian Chan , Gerald Chew , Ong Chao Hong , Sean Tobin
Country
Germany
Language
Malay

Also known as El aprendiz de verdugo L'apprenti Bourreau Am Strang 견습생 监狱学警 徒刑 Çırak เพชฌฆาตร้องไห้เป็น

Where to watch

We do not have a confirmed subscription streaming listing. Check services in your country; rental, purchase and cinema options may differ.

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Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (88/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (78%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (74/100).
  • Celluloid Score 76% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Apprentice worth watching?

    Yes — Apprentice earns a 76% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick. Read our full review (3.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Boo Junfeng’s Singapore death-row drama won Best New Director at MGGA 2017 — a Un Certain Regard title that helped define MIFFest’s regional focus.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics (88%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (78%).

    What is Apprentice about?

    When ambitious young correctional officer Aiman is transferred to the country's highest-security prison, he catches the attention of the seasoned chief executioner Rahim. Aiman's desire to become the hangman's apprentice is not only professional but born of an unspeakable urge to reconnect with a past that haunts him.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Apprentice

    Apprentice (2016) Review: Learning the Hangman's Trade

    Boo Junfeng's Apprentice follows a young prison officer drawn to Singapore's veteran hangman: a taut, unsettling death-row drama that is cool to a fault.

    Yes, with reservations. It is a gripping, morally serious study of capital punishment with a superb Wan Hanafi Su, though its reserve keeps its hero hard to reach.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Apprentice stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Apprentice production still 1
    Apprentice production still 2
    Apprentice production still 3
    Apprentice production still 4
    Apprentice production still 5
    Apprentice production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Apprentice: frequently asked questions

    Is Apprentice worth watching?

    Yes. Apprentice (2016) has a Celluloid Score of 76%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    How long is Apprentice?

    Apprentice runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).

    What is Apprentice rated?

    Apprentice is rated 15 in the UK and M18 in Singapore. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Apprentice?

    Apprentice is directed by Boo Junfeng and stars Fir Rahman, Wan Hanafi Su, Mastura Ahmad, Boon Pin Koh, Nickson Cheng.

    What is the Metascore for Apprentice?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Apprentice is 74 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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