The Substitute (2007)

A group of sixth graders are convinced their new substitute teacher is actually a menacing alien.

Director:

Ole Bornedal

Writers:

Ole Bornedal (screenplay), Henrik Prip (screenplay)

Stars:

Paprika Steen, Ulrich Thomsen, Jonas Wandschneider

3 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paprika Steen	...	Ulla Harms
Ulrich Thomsen	...	Jesper Osböll
Jonas Wandschneider	...	Carl
Nikolaj Falkenberg-Klok	...	Phillip
Emma Juel Justesen	...	Rikke
Mollie Maria Gilmartin	...	Lotte
Josephine Gents	...	Camilla (as Josephine Wormslew Gents)
Emma Claudia Søndergaard	...	Laura
Jakob Fals Nygaard	...	Albert
Andreas Gram Nielsen	...	Tobias
Mathias Peter Kjær	...	Malthe
Sonja Richter	...	Maria
Peter Hesse Overgaard	...	Skoleinspektør Maele
Henrik Prip	...	Psykolog Claus
Olivia Stenderup Garre	...	Sofie

Storyline

6th Grade gets a new substitute teacher. She wants to train the class for an international competition in Paris. But something isn't right. How is she able read kids' minds? Why is she so mean? And how does she manage to convince everyone's parents she is so great when the whole class knows she is really an alien?

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Plot Keywords:

substitute teacher | alien | teenager | junior high school | little sister | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Denmark]

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Release Date:

15 June 2007 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

The Substitute

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Obel Film,Thura Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The earth globe seen from space in the beginning and the end of the film is falsely mirrored.

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Connections

Referenced in Troldspejlet: Episode #42.9 (2009)

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Soundtracks

Sov Sødt Barn Lille
Næsby Kirkekor

User Reviews

Paprika Steen Rocks!

The films opening scene explains that aliens know only war. Their goal is to learn about and understand the human emotion of love. In attempt to do just that, they send a sphere that lands on a deserted chicken farm. They take over the body of a farmers wife who reports to work as a grade six school teacher. Paprika Steen who plays the teacher is fantastic. She plays the wickedly nasty teacher with over the top enthusiasm and absolutely nails it. It is one of the most amusing and entertaining characters I have seen in a horror film in some time. The kids figure out almost immediately that there is something not quite right about their new teacher. She taunts and humiliates the children with insults and appears to have the answer to every question. The more they learn about their new teacher the more horrified they become. The first half of this film is rock solid. A real masterpiece. Unfortunately the films conclusion is a complete and utter crap-out. The ending seemed hurried and the finale was anti-climatic to say the least. It is intended to be more amusing than horrifying but it would have been appropriate to add a little more suspense, particularly for the final scene. There is no gore in this film and no scares at all. There are only a few isolated moments of suspense. This being said this film is still extremely watchable and I think that people who aren't generally fans of the horror genre will also enjoy it. More "PG" than our regular fair but some really good clean fun!