In this action-thriller favorite, now on 4K for the first time, a mercenary faces off against one of his most formidable enemies: a high school gang. Shale (Tom Berenger) is an ex-Vietnam vet reeling from a botched covert operation. Returning home, he reunites with his girlfriend, Jane (Diane Venora), a high school teacher who’s hospitalized after a beating by the Kings of Destruction gang. Hunting Jane’s attackers, Shale goes undercover as a substitute teacher, and uncovers a cocaine highway running through the school involving gang leader Lacas (Marc Anthony) and the school’s shady principal, Rolle (Ernie Hudson). Summoning his mercenaries, Shale goes to war with the Kings of Destruction – and rival guns for hire – on the unusual battleground of a high school, but for the usual stakes: life…and death.
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Video Quality
Lionsgate presents The Substitute with a striking 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer derived from a 4K restoration. This release is a Lionsgate Limited exclusive presented under the Vestron Collector’s Series imprint, and it marks the first 4K UHD release from this particular line—a trend that we hope continues more and more. This film has also never previously received a Blu-Ray release domestically, so the included Blu-Ray derived from the same new master should also be on the radar of those who haven’t upgraded to 4K UHD but still want a quality presentation. This film has been released internationally on Blu-Ray, but we do not own any of those releases to offer comparisons—but we do know they utilize older masters.
This upgrade in both formats allows the film to finally thrive at home. Nearly all potential print damage has been eradicated with only the occasional speck remaining. Detail and clarity stand out as a major coup thanks to the natural film grain which has been lovingly preserved. There are mercifully no signs that serious grain reduction has been applied, as you get an observable sheen that resolves well. The texture revealed in the clothing, within the backgrounds, and in the facial features is much appreciated. These details, such as stubble and perspiration, stand out more than ever.
An unbelievable benefit of this viewing experience is the implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR. This process brings out the nuances of the photography, yielding a complexity that is cherished. The color saturation on this disc is a true gift to behold. The visual tapestry balances the light with the dark to perfection. Highlights offer the utmost stability without veering into blooming, while black levels maintain an ideal amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Skin tones look natural to their disposition, with plenty of cuts and bruises developing as things unfold. The encode runs at a high bitrate with nothing in the way of compression artifacts, banding, or other anomalies. This film finally has top-notch representation on physical media, so fans can rest easy with this one.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with an all-new, effective Dolby Atmos track, but it skips out on also providing the original audio track as an option. This is slightly disappointing, but the team at Lionsgate has taken a respectful approach to the creation of this new audio track. The Atmos track does not go overboard with deploying sounds in the overhead channels, yet there is room to delight in key moments when the additional channels more firmly transport you to this setting. The low-end response introduces some pivotal texture to explosive moments in the surround sound channels. The triumphant Gary Chang score flows through the room with a confident fidelity that establishes the tone of the journey. This track handles it without missing a beat throughout the film.
The film implements a very deliberate sound design which places emphasis on different showcase elements from scene to scene. While there is rarely a moment when it overshadows competing noises, there are a few points when the dialogue can take a step back and allow other elements to thrive in the mix. The environmental sounds are rendered effectively alongside everything else. The track avoids most of the age-related pops that you might expect to hear, as things hold together quite well. On the whole, there does not seem to be any serious instances of age-related wear and tear. Lionsgate has given this film a grand audio presentation that serves the movie well. Optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Power Achieved Is Power Perceived – Director Robert Mandel on The Substitute: A new 17-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he reflects on the production of The Substitute, assembling the cast, the shooting locations, the legacy of the franchise, and much more.
- Color Grade Is In Session: A seven-minute look into the restoration process for the film, specifically looking at the supervision of the color grade for high dynamic range.
- Bullet Points – Storyboard to Film Exploration: A four-minute comparison of a key scene from the storyboard phase to the finished film.
- Theatrical Trailer (1:43)
Final Thoughts
The Substitute is one part classic, inspirational teacher movie, and one part badass, one-man army crime thriller. The concept is patently ridiculous, but it is one hell of a fun time from beginning to end. Tom Berenger is just believable enough on either side of the spectrum. He does believably convey an authority figure who wants the best for the kids under his watch, but he also seems like he can crack some skulls when bad guys cross his path. If you know what you are getting into and the premise sounds fun, you should have a really good time with it. Lionsgate has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a glorious A/V presentation and an impressive array of supplements. If you are a fan of the film, you will be treated well here. Recommended
The Substitute is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray exclusively from Lionsgate Limited.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
