The Substitute (2007)

In the quiet heartland of Denmark, amidst clucking poultry and the timeless rhythm of farm life, a cosmic visitor descends. This celestial stranger, on a quest to unravel the enigma of earthly love, takes possession of Ulla Harms, the wife of a poultry farm owner. As Ulla, she steps into a community entangled in its own struggles with love and loss. At the core of this struggle is young Carl, an outcast in his school, grappling with the tragic loss of his mother in a car accident. His father, Jesper Osböll, a best-selling author renowned for his musings on the power of love, is also wrestling with the void left by his wife's departure. The arrival of Ulla as a substitute teacher, replacing Carl's regular teacher incapacitated by salmonella, spins their world off its axis. Ulla's presence in school is immediately unsettling. She harbors a bizarre interest in grooming the 6th grade class for an international competition in Paris. Yet, it's the inexplicable way she seems able to read the children's minds and her unnerving mean streak that sends shivers down their spines. But the most disturbing revelation is yet to come: Ulla is not just an eccentric substitute teacher, but a monstrous alien entity from the far reaches of space. Despite their terrifying discovery, Carl and his friends find themselves embattled on two fronts: convincing their parents of Ulla's true identity and unraveling her sinister intentions. As the adults find themselves charmed by the seemingly wonderful new teacher, the children must muster their courage to confront the alien menace masquerading in their midst. "The Substitute" is an intriguing blend of the mundane and the cosmic, a tale of love and loss, and a nail-biting journey of a group of children standing against an enemy their parents refuse to see.

The Substitute is a comedy movie featuring Paprika Steen and directed by Ole Bornedal.

The Substitute is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex, Plex Player and Tubi TV.

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