The Substitute (1993)

Truly Dreadful Film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

When i first saw this movie was a few years ago because i had it on VHS.Back then i thought that the movie deserved 5/10 (Average) but i bought the DVD with good image and sound it made to give this movie a 7. The music score is excellent and the movie (instead of having some minor flaws) is very entertaining.In this film Mark Wahlberg made his debut and you can tell but he is acceptable because of his charisma&attitude.Amanda Donohoe has done the biggest role in her career in this movie.But this just my opinion.Watching this movie you'll not be disappointed because Amanda Donohoe is Bete Davis of our times.

"Gayle Richards" (Amanda Donohoe) is a successful high school teacher who comes home from work to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary with her husband. As she is preparing herself for the occasion she notices a picture of one of her female students in his jacket pocket. So, she tells her husband she has to go away for a few days to see her mother. That evening she catches him in bed with that same student. Feeling betrayed and ridiculed she ends up killing both of them and sets the entire house on fire. After that she leaves New York and drops out of sight for a year and then turns up in a small town in Minnesota under the name of "Laura Ellington". Unfortunately, she is still unable to come to terms with her past and not long afterward sleeps with one of her students named "Josh Wyatt" (Dalton James). Besides being inappropriate it also causes problems for both of them when she starts dating Josh's father, "Ben Wyatt" (Eugene Glazer). At any rate, because this film was a "made-for-television" production it goes without saying that some scenes were toned down to accommodate a general television audience. This caused the film to seem less intense than it could have been. Even so, it was still entertaining to a certain degree and probably merits an average score, all things considered.

Amanda Donohoe's performance is the highlight of this TV film.Gale had it all. Students who loved her and an adoring husband. Apparently, he found another love and when he was caught in the act, he is killed along with his lover.Gale runs off to Minnesota and begins a new teaching career. With Mrs. Fisher, the regular teacher, out on sick leave and probably taking early retirement, Laura Ellington, her new name, gets a long-term position and works with extremely difficult youngsters.She now looks like a witch and is quite a character. When Mrs. Fisher announces her surprise return, Laura does away with her so as to get the teaching position permanently.The film, as is the case with many others of this type, begins to deteriorate as the bodies pile up. Laura goes to bed with one of the students and then takes up with his widowed father. Mark Wahlberg plays a troubled student. When he follows Ms. Ellington to Mrs. Fisher's house, she kills him.I'll stop here because the ending is contrived ...but wild. Our school systems stink but a teacher like this, wow!

Amanda Donohue stars as a wonderful teacher with a dark side - she kills people. Pretty unoriginal concept, but I enjoyed it. Amanda Donohue was flawless in her portrayal of both a high school teacher and a psycho loon. She reminded me of my teachers so much I shivered. This film also marks Mark Wahlberg's acting debut and you can tell. Marky Mark was terrible in his portrayal of a "rebellious" teen and potential victim. I was cheering for his death and thank god he's taken some acting lessons since then. Dalton James was alright, but Natasha Gregson Wagner, who looks she's balding, was quite boring.More suspense was needed as was some development of the supporting characters (Wagner, Wahlberg, etc...). Aside from a few lost plots, bad performances and scenes of standard thriller fare, check it out. For once we actually feel for and understand the protagonist. She might kill people for personal gain, but who doesn't?6.5/10