
Written, Directed & Produced By: Adam MacDonald
Based on the book By: Courtney Summers
Cinematography: Christian Bielz
Editor: Pamela Bayne
Cast: Olivia Holt, Froy Gutierrez, Corteon Moore, Carson McCormac, Chloe Avakian, Luke Macfarlane, Joelle Farrow, Krista Bridges, Jeff Roop
Follows Sloane and four other students who take shelter in their high school during a zombie outbreak.
Based on the young adult novel, THIS IS NOT A TEST feels like the kind of adaptation that probably trims away much of what made the book worth reading. I haven’t read the novel, but I’d wager there’s more room there for the characters to breathe than this film ever gives them.
Instead, it settles into familiar zombie movie territory. Imagine THE WALKING DEAD aimed at a younger audience, only with the occasional surprising moment, yes, including one scene I genuinely didn’t expect. Unfortunately, surprises are in short supply everywhere else. You’ll likely figure out who’s making it to the end long before the characters do.
The frustrating part is that the movie constantly hints at becoming something better. It sets up interesting situations, builds a little tension, then repeatedly backs away just as things are about to get exciting. There are plenty of opportunities to push the horror, the suspense, or even the emotional drama further, but it almost always chooses the safest route.
To its credit, the film isn’t bad. It’s competently made, moves at a brisk pace, and wisely doesn’t overstay its welcome. The cast is believable, likable, and does the best they can with material that rarely challenges them. The movie’s heart is clearly in the relationships and emotional survival rather than nonstop zombie mayhem, and some viewers will appreciate that approach.
If you’re newer to zombie films or horror in general, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this more than I did. There’s enough action and tension to stay engaged, and it never completely loses its footing. For longtime fans of the genre, though, there’s very little here that feels fresh or memorable.
In the end, THIS IS NOT A TEST isn’t a disaster. it just never becomes the movie it keeps teasing. It’s respectable, watchable, and occasionally effective, but it ultimately feels less like a finished statement and more like an early draft that needed one more rewrite.
Grade: C

