The lowdown:  Based on the novel by M.S. Power, 'The Stalker's Apprentice' is a psychological drama that was first
broadcast on ITV1 on 25 May 1998. It stars Gideon Turner as Marcus Walwyn, a young man who works at a publishing
house. Marcus assesses manuscripts to see if they are suitable for publication, and his ambition is to become an editor.
He receives the manuscript of a novel called 'Death in Santiago', by Helmut Kranz. Marcus becomes engrossed in this
story, which turns out to be a manifesto on how to stalk and murder people, not realising that Krane is a serial killer and
his "novel" is based on his own crimes. Meanwhile, Marcus becomes obssessed with a waitress named Karen Scott
(Natalie Walter), who he first sees on a train. He begins following her and making regular visits to the cafe where she
works, introducing himself as Peter. The trouble is, Karen has a fiance named Darren. This doesn't deter Marcus in the
least, who is determined that Karen will be his. Karen's best friend Sharon becomes suspicious of Marcus, so he lures
her to his parents' home and kills her, carving a star into her forehead. He then kills Darren, leaving the same mark, and
comforts Karen in her time of need. 

Detective Inspector Maurice Birt (Peter Davison) is put on the case, and the star mark immediately arouses his interest. 
Birt reveals to his DS, Detective Sergeant Ray Wilson, that this is similar to the modus operandi of Hubert Zanker, a serial
killer who carved a criss-cross pattern on his victims. The Zanker case had been Birt's first murder investigation, and he
suspects that somebody is copying Zanker's methods. Birt suspects Marcus of being the killer, and follows him to the 
house of Kranz (James Bolam), who turns out to be Zanker, who has been released from prison and is writing his book 
under a pseudonym. Birt eventually gets his man, who gives himself away by insisting that his mark is an asterisk rather
than a star. Karen is also murdered - by Kranze rather than Marcus, but Marcus is convicted of all three murders, and
Kranze is standing in the shadows in the court's public gallery as the sentence is handed down...

The verdict:  'The Stalker's Apprentice' is a well-written psychological thriller with enough suspense and tension to keep
the viewer interested. Sure, you know pretty much what is going to happen, although the film has a few twists to ensure
that it does not get boring. The cast is also very good, especially Gideon Turner and Peter Davison, although James Bolam
is undoubtedly the star, putting in a performance that is chilling and creepy, and very different to the type of roles we are
used to seeing him in.

Video Clips:   Inspector Birt    4.5mb        The Zanker case    6.6mb        Marcus is arrested    5.7mb
   
NTSC DVD
 


The novel
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