This Is Not a Test – Movie Review (3/5)

THIS IS NOT A TEST is a zombie apocalyptic horror thriller. Olivia Holt is great in the lead, and the overall casting works really well. It’s a good zombie movie, but it could have been better. It would have required that it dared go a bit deeper with its characters. Read our full This Is Not A Test movie review here!

THIS IS NOT A TEST is a horror thriller coming out exclusively in theaters. This is an apocalyptic movie with a zombie plot. At times, it’s a straight-up zombie action-horror hybrid, while it also has moments of being a horror-drama. The latter comes in the quieter moments, when the story is more character-driven.

While I am always a fan of the wild zombie movie moments, this horror-thriller shines in those quieter moments. In that regard, the runtime of 102 minutes could have been a little longer, and delved further into these characters. I would have enjoyed that and cared more about the characters if we had been allowed to know them even better.

Continue reading our This Is Not a Test horror movie review below. Find it in theaters from February 20, 2026.

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse in a High School

This Is Not a Test follows Sloane (Olivia Holt) and a small group of her classmates as they survive the initial first wave of a zombie apocalypse. They seek refuge in their high school, but even just getting there will mean losing some of the people in their group. The zombie apocalypse hit their hometown hard and fast.

Of course, getting inside a place with food and running water is a great start. But keeping the place safe is a challenge that never ends. Danger is literally at the doors, and while Sloane was ready to give up on life before the zombie arrived, she discovers that she’s not ready to give up.

Oliva Holt is a very strong lead in This Is Not a Test, which is due to both Sloane being a fleshed-out character and her choices in portrayal. The same was the case for Olivia Holt in Heart Eyes, Totally Killer, and Cruel Summer, which is why she is quickly becoming a horror darling.

Alongside Olivia Holt, This Is Not a Test also stars Froy Gutierrez (Initiation), Corteon Moore (Guess Who), Carson MacCormac (Clown in a Cornfield), Chloe Avakian (Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy), and Luke MacFarlane (Killjoys).

The zombie apocalypse is here!

With This Is Not a Test, the title comes from the message playing as a siren warns people that they need to shelter-in-place. Or rather, they need to hide, not just stay where they are. We’ve witnessed the beginning of the zombie apocalypse in many zombie movies, and it’s easy to understand why.

I mean, it’s the most relatable moment in virtually any zombie movie; Here is the world as you know it, but then we add zombies, and suddenly the apocalypse is actively happening. It truly is a solid zombie movie premise.

From the horror-comedy angle in Shaun of the Dead or Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, on to the sinister horror-drama vibe of The Night Eats the World and We Bury the Dead, and the relentless horror action style of Train to Busan or World War Z. In This Is Not the Test, we get a little of most of the above.

Well, except for the horror-comedy, as This Is Not a Test is not a funny movie. This is exactly why I wish they had dived into the character-driven darkness even more. With Olivia Holt’s character, we get flashbacks that help us get there, but we hardly know any of the other characters. As a result, I only really care about her character, and that is not ideal for this story.

Watch This Is Not a Test in theaters

This Is Not a Test is written and directed by Adam MacDonald. Genre fans should already be familiar with Adam MacDonald, as he also made the genre movies Backcountry (2014), Pyewacket (2017), and Out Come the Wolves (2024). Most recently, he also did the horror series Hell Motel, which I did not love, but I can’t blame Adam MacDonald for that.

This new zombie movie was adapted from New York Times Best Selling Author Courtney Summers’ novel. Having watched this movie adaptation, I’m curious about the book, which is always a good sign.

Anyone who enjoys a good zombie movie should absolutely check out This Is Not a Test. This is not my favorite zombie movie, but it’s one I will gladly recommend to anyone who likes zombie movies. Also, Olivia Holt (and Luke Macfarlane as a very atypical character for him) are extremely memorable in this movie, where everyone delivers strong performances.

This Is Not a Test is out exclusively in theaters from February 20, 2026.

Details

Director: Adam MacDonald
Writer: Adam MacDonald
Cast: Olivia Holt, Froy Gutierrez, Corteon Moore, Carson MacCormac, Chloe Avakian, Luke MacFarlane