The Substitute (1996)

In the volatile aftermath of a disastrous mission in Cuba that claimed three lives, hardened mercenary Jonathan Shale and his eclectic team - Joey Six, Rem, Wellman, and Hollan - retreat to the familiar streets of Miami. Here, Jonathan's love, Jane Hetzko, a passionate history teacher at Columbus High School, grapples with a threat of her own. The school, a supposed sanctuary, is governed by terror, courtesy of the ruthless street gang, the "Kings of Destruction" (KOD), led by the fearsome Juan Lacas. The gang's painful reminders of their reign take a personal turn when Jane becomes their target, resulting in her kneecap shattered by the brutish Bull. This incident prompts Jane to voice her suspicions to Jonathan about Lacas' involvement, igniting a fiercely protective flame in him. In a daring move, Jonathan infiltrates the school under the unassuming alias James Smith, posing as Jane's substitute, unbeknownst to her. He soon intertwines with the school's diverse faculty, including the enigmatic Principal Claude Rolle, the studious librarian Hannah Dillon, and the expressive English and drama teacher Darrell Sherman. However, the school's halls hide more than academic secrets. Jonathan stumbles upon a sinister underbelly, a toxic vein of drug trafficking permeating the school, orchestrated by none other than the notorious drug lord Johnny Glades. The plot thickens as Jonathan uncovers a chilling alliance between Lacas, Rolle, and Glades, turning the school into a drug depot feeding Miami's streets. Faced with the grim reality of the institution he's infiltrated, Jonathan rallies his team, ready to wage a war on crime. The school's corridors become battlegrounds as he cuts through the heart of the drug operation, threatening lives and unmasking treachories. As the plot unravels, it's a race against time for Jonathan and his crew to cleanse the school of its criminal infestation, and in doing so, protect the woman he loves. The Substitute is a thrilling exploration of love, loyalty, and the lengths one would go to protect their own, set against the backdrop of a school steeped in a dangerous game of power and deceit.

The Substitute is an action movie featuring Tom Berenger.

The Substitute is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Plex, Plex Player, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on fuboTV.

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