Movie Review: The Substitute

The sixth-grade students of a small town begin to realize that their new substitute teacher is an alien. When their parents don't believe them, they are forced to take matters into their own hands before it's too late.

Another Danish film, this one is much more sci-fi really than horror. It's got a lot going against it right off the bat, having mainly young child stars (always tough) and a really goofy sounding plot. Then it starts with a terrible voice-over telling how humans are different from any other creatures in the universe because we know how to love. So at this point there's just too much going against this movie and I settled in for an hour and a half of total suckage. Surprisingly, that's not at all what it delivered.

The same group of Danish children I'd wondered about did a remarkably good job with their roles. Most are likable and believable in their roles, especially the lead boy. It's not easy either as they've got to be charming, funny and terrified at the same time... all while not being annoying. The woman who plays the substitute is fantastic as well. She switches effortlessly from charming to super bitch to alien without a hitch.

The tone of the movie is one of dark humor. There are parts that are really funny (loved the end conversation) and parts where you're not sure whether to laugh or not (dinner). There is some building tension to the story as the kids begin to fear for their lives from the new teacher and what she has in store for them. There's also some social commentary hidden within the strange goings on. The script overall is very good and well executed.

There aren't a whole lot of special effects, but what there is are well done and fun... which really sums up the whole movie. It's never boring and by the end I found it to be very entertaining.

About the only part I don't like were the end credits, where they have the kids dancing to some electronic music sort of like how Footloose might end if set in modern day. Very odd and it doesn't fit the movie at all. Granted, it's just the credits though.

A simple yet funny sci-fi film well worth a watch.

6/10