Profumo di morte

Martin Donovan directs this film with an inspired cast. Mr. Donovan has done much better work in his native Argentina. "The Substitute" seems to be a movie of the week feature that we had never seen. It was shown on a cable channel the other night and while the film doesn't even attempt to break new ground on the horror genre, it will not bore the viewer. Thankfully, it's only 87 minutes long!

The best excuse for watching the movie is Amanda Donohue, an actress that has done some interesting work. Her take on the evil teacher is right on target. Ms. Donohue plays the dual role of Gayle/Laura with great style, something she has always brought to other roles. This woman is a step ahead of everyone. She is evil personified. She registers a lot of emotion without appearing ghoulish.

The young supporting cast is good. Dalton James plays Josh, a young man that gets a taste of what Laura is capable of doing. Mark Wahlberg, billed as Marky Mark, doesn't much to do. He was still trying to find his way around the movie business. Natasha Gregson Wagner plays a bland Jenny, Josh's girlfriend. Finally, Eugene Robert Glazer is seen as Josh's father and the object of Laura's sudden interest.

See the film with an open mind.

The film, made for Cable, is far from perfect but the truth is I was engrossed. Riveted actually. Amanda Donohoe gives a fantastic performance as someone trying to hide from her own past and failing in the most devastating way. Her torture is written all over her fabulous face. Great part of the film is just mesmerizing. Young faces full of something lyrical and magic. Including the future Oscar nominee, Mark Whalberg. There is an undeniable Hitchcockian touch, even the score has a Bernard Herrman sound. I saw it a week ago and here I am, still thinking about it. Not available on DVD. I would love to hear the behind the scenes. I'm sure there is story there.

It has been awhile since audiences have seen Amanda Donohoe. (Remember L.A. Law?).

She is actually quite good as a teacher with less than good intentions; she looks mysterious and menacing. It is surprising also that Mark Wahlberg (previously known as "Marky Mark") is in this film I recently saw him in "The Shooter" and he has come a long way.

For a TV suspense film this is not bad. Dalton James ("90210") also has a part as Ben's son, who realizes Donohoe is capable of murder. There are a few scenes reminiscent of Psycho, when he is in the library collecting information about the teacher and her murderous history. Natasha Gregson Wagner also has a small part as a student and Molly Parker ("Intensity").

All in all, not a bad film for a rainy day.

A viewer praised the score by Gerald Gouriet (never heard of him, I guess he is a Canadian). Question is: If the music was supposed to be a homage to Bernard Herrmann (the composer of Hitchcock's Vertigo, Psycho, North by Northwest, Marnie) then Mr Gouriet did a great job. Otherwise, it is just too much musically a copycat. Perhaps director Donovan prescribed the similarity on purpose, as many visual passages in this film have been resolved in the non-realistic -almost oneiric- way Hitchcok staged some scenes in his films. A case in point: when Josh is reading the newspaper microfilms at the library, titles (in red) are superimposed over the pages of the newspaper. When Josh is dreaming, color turns red. When the camera shoots down on the smiling and hopeful faces of students is another moment where viewers realize a professional director is holding the reins. All in all, as a TV movie is clearly above average. Watchable, well acted by everybody.

I was curious about "The Substitute" because it was Mark Whalberg's debut as an actor but I couldn't have imagined the pleasures that this off beat melodrama had to offer. Elegantly told with unexpected holes in the narration here and there but with a thrilling central performance by Amanda Donohoe that left me kind of breathless. There is also a visual intention that is both surprising and deeply engrossing. Amanda Donohe looking at herself in the mirror at different times of her shattering journey gives you clues as to were her mind is. What does she actually see when she looks into the mirror? She was always a positive human being that was pushed into an infernal situation and instead of getting herself out she gets in deeper and deeper. I felt sympathy for her and at the same time she terrified me. The superb Hitchcockian score is another major plus.