Teacher’s Pet Review: Good Idea, Mediocre Execution

Genre– Thriller
Director – Noam Kroll
Writer – Noam Kroll
Cast – Luke Barnett, Michelle Torian, Barbara Crampton, Sara Tomko, Drew Powell and Kevin Makely
Runtime – 90 Minutes
My Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆

Where to watch/stream Teacher’s Pet

It’s a film with potential that just never quite grabs you all the way

Teacher’s Pet is one of those movies that tries really hard to be tense and clever, but often it just ends up feeling flat.

Still, there’s enough here to keep you watching, if only to see where it goes.

Plot Summary of Teacher’s Pet (Spoiler-Free)

Teacher’s Pet starts with some jarring close-up shots of dead bodies, immediately signaling that this isn’t going to be a typical high school story, and early on, we see a white man shaving in a bathroom mirror and another shot of a man crouched near a dead body – it’s supposed to be ominous, though it doesn’t quite land with the weight it seems to want.

The story then shifts to a fairly normal American high school, where Clara (Michelle Torian) arrives in class only to discover that their English teacher has died by suicide – enter Mr. Heller, played by Luke Barnett, the new teacher who appears calm, ordinary, and, well, boring.

Except, of course, we’ve already glimpsed someone suspiciously similar near a dead girl, which is supposed to set off alarm bells.

Clara’s school life is also complicated, where she navigates jealous classmates, flirts with a classmate who likes her, and gradually becomes the object of Mr. Heller’s unsettling attention.

Teacher’s Pet Review: Is It Worth Watching?

It’s a mixed bag for sure!

There are moments that genuinely work – Michelle Torian is excellent, the concept is interesting, and a few scenes hit the creepy, uncomfortable mark – but overall, the film struggles to maintain momentum, and much of the tension feels quite forced.

Michelle Torian as Clara is the highlight though, making decisions that will make you roll your eyes, but the script sometimes undercuts her with clunky dialogue and odd choices that don’t feel motivated.

While Luke Barnett’s Mr. Heller is meant to be quietly terrifying, and there are flashes where it works, especially when his calm demeanor clashes with subtle manipulations, but most of the time, he just reads as a slightly off, boring teacher, and while the movie wants you to feel anxious about him, there’s too little payoff, and his “creepiness” never really escalates in a way that feels earned.

The supporting cast also does some heavy lifting.

Sara Tomko as the school counselor is warm and relatable, and Barbara Crampton as Sylvia adds some emotional depth, though her character is mostly stuck in a setup that feels tired while Kevin Makely as Jack is supposed to be menacing, but his portrayal occasionally slides into exaggerated aggression that undermines the sense of realism the movie tries to build.

One area where the film really struggles though is the pacing – the opening is tense, the middle drags, and by the time things pick up again, you’re a little worn out by slow scenes that feel like filler – it’s as if the film can’t decide what it actually really wants to be.

Cinematography and editing are solid enough, where Noam Kroll, who directed, shot, and edited the film, does a competent job visually – mirrors and reflections are used thoughtfully, and close-ups do create intimacy – but the visuals alone aren’t enough to carry the movie when the story falters, and the minimal soundtrack helps with tension in some scenes, but in others, it highlights how little is actually happening.

I will say that I appreciated the attempt at psychological horror without showing outright violence. though, via the subtle manipulation, the uncomfortable glances, and Clara’s precarious situation, which are all good ideas, but they aren’t developed enough to create the kind of sustained dread that would make this movie actually gripping.

All that said, there are enough moments that work that it isn’t a total loss, it’s just that Teacher’s Pet never fully commits to any one tone or tension level, which makes it feel far too inconsistent.

Just about watchable, I suppose.

What I liked (And What I Didn’t like)

Pros

Strong lead performance

Michelle Torian is good enough even when the script doesn’t give her much.

Conceptually interesting

The idea of subtle psychological manipulation in a school setting is fairly interesting.

Some moments of tension work

A few scenes genuinely made me uneasy.

Supporting cast adds some needed depth

Sara Tomko and Barbara Crampton deliver solid performances.

Competent cinematography

Mirrors and framing are handled well.

Cons

Uneven pacing

The middle drags hard in particular.

Tension inconsistent

Some scenes try to be creepy but fall flat.

Mr. Heller underdeveloped

The antagonist never becomes truly threatening.

Some dialogue is clunky

Lines occasionally feel unnatural or forced.

Minor plot gaps

Certain character motivations aren’t fully explained.

Overall Execution

It just ends up being a bit meh.

Who Might Like Teacher’s Pet

• Fans of slow-burn thrillers
• People interested in subtle psychological tension
• Audiences open to quiet, understated horror

Who Might Dislike Teacher’s Pet

• People expecting constant tension
• Fans of traditional horror with jumps and gore
• Viewers who need full plot clarity
• People who dislike slow character-driven drama
• Audiences wanting overt scares
• Those who dislike inconsistent tone

Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching Teacher’s Pet?

It’s a mixed bag as said.

I’d say it’s watchable if you’re curious, but don’t expect to be blown away.

6/10. It’s a film with potential that just never quite grabs you all the way.

Teacher’s Pet Trailer

Simon Leasher

A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I have watched many films from around the world in many different genres, yet I still normally always come back to trashy slasher horror films when in doubt. More

And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.