Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes
Susan Stark, Detroit News: Read more
Stephen Holden, New York Times: The entire setup is too garish to be credible. Read more
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: There's a sense of shrewd observation throughout The Substitute that makes it come alive and seem quite a few cuts above such usual genre fare. Read more
James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Aside from a lot of only moderately-satisfying violence, The Substitute comes across as rather lame. Read more
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The title changes, the actors change, and the superficial details of the story change, but it is always about exactly the same thing: heavily armed men shooting at one another. Read more
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Those who appreciate the irony of a killing machine turned loose on a pack of nasty students will find The Substitute a source of nonstop delight. Read more