“Maybe the only way our story can end is varying degrees of sad.”
If there is one thing I LOVE, it’s zombies. Books, movies, games, if it involves “braaaainnns,” I’m there. It all started when I was little, watching my uncle play Resident Evil. I remember my heart racing; it was so spooky. When I finally played it myself, I couldn’t handle horror games alone for the longest time. They made my skin crawl and my mind squeeze with terror.
But that feeling was awesome! It made me feel alive. It was a “controlled fear”, I was in charge and could stop at any time. I still crave that prickly feeling right before a jump-scare. Whether I’m diving into a new horror novel or playing a survival game, I love being on the edge of my seat, never knowing what nightmare is waiting around the corner.
So, when I saw a new zombie movie had dropped, I knew I had to watch it. I’ll watch almost any zombie flick… but this one was just “okay.”
Spoilers ahead!
The Premise
This Is Not a Test is based on the YA horror novel by Courtney Summers. While it’s set during a zombie apocalypse, it’s really a psychological thriller centered on Sloane Price. Sloane is already struggling with suicidal thoughts and an abusive home life, seeing the end of the world as a potential escape. Barricaded in her high school with five other teens, she’s forced to confront her will to live amidst external threats and internal drama.
“I don’t know how I’m going to do this, move through the hours like someone who wants to still be breathing when I had so firmly made up my mind to stop.”
I’ve been finding quotes like this from the book, and even though I haven’t read it yet, this movie put it on my “To-Read” list. I’ve heard the book is much better, which doesn’t surprise me.
The Characters: Hero vs. Moper
The movie starts subtly, showing Sloane’s terrifying relationship with her overbearing father. You quickly realize she feels abandoned and betrayed by her sister, who left her behind. My first impression was that Sloane was a lost, confused teenager searching for an escape. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t go very deep into her psyche.
Honestly, I found Sloane to be one of the most boring characters on screen. She was shallow and didn’t do much. If you’re looking for a hero who fights and brings excitement, this isn’t her.
She felt more like a side character just standing around moping while everyone else made moves.
I found Cary to be much more entertaining. From the moment he appeared, he was brave, focused, and actually had a plan. He felt like the true lead. He made the right calls (mostly), and I was genuinely sad when he disappeared. Since we never saw him turn, I’m holding out hope that he survived.
The “Creepy Teacher” Plot
Midway through, the group finds a bloodied teacher with a gun. Immediately, he gives off total predator vibes. He’s a complete creep, and the movie does a great job making him feel untrustworthy, especially when it’s implied he was watching Sloane sleep.
The logic here gets a bit messy. The teacher claims he was bitten by a human, not a zombie, so that the others would kill him. It’s an interesting premise: in an apocalypse, you could just bite someone you hate to get them executed.
The students decide to force him outside, which felt like a huge tactical error. Why not just lock him in a room? If he turns, he’s contained. If not, he’s telling the truth. Shoving him out just risks him coming back with a horde.
The Final Act
The “common sense” bar drops pretty low toward the end. One character makes the baffling decision to keep touching the teacher after he returns covered in blood and clearly “turned.” It was the stupidest thing a character could do. She ends up shot, her brother kills himself, and we’re left with Sloane, who is still just standing there.
The ending sees the survivors heading toward a shelter after a sentimental (and sad) scene where Sloane has to deal with her turned father and sister. It wraps up with them driving off into the unknown.
Final Verdict: ★★½☆☆
I can’t say this was the best zombie movie I’ve seen. The pace is slow, and because they’re stuck in the school, you don’t see the zombies often. The characters were mostly bland, and I didn’t find myself rooting for Sloane at all. The best character was a guy named Cary. He was the leader and always trying to do the right thing and help others. He had more personality than anyone else and honestly the movie should’ve just followed him. I liked him WAY more than Sloane.
The Highlights:
The Zombies: They looked great! Gory, vicious, and scary without being cheesy.
The Concept: I liked the idea of zombies briefly “coming to” before being overtaken by the virus again. The way her sister stopped fighting her when she heard her name. It was like she was there, but something was keeping her chained away.
The Gore: Brains were splattered, and the kills were entertaining.
If you’re bored and love the genre, it’s a decent one-time watch. It’s not a terrible movie, but it could have been so much more if the characters had actual personalities.
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Find my book with the link below!
“Souille is a riveting novella that artfully blends elements of horror and science fiction to craft a high-stakes adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. When Natalie’s life is thrown into chaos after a terrible hurricane leaves her hometown in ruins, she’s thrust into a deadly face-off against strange and malicious entities in her desperate struggle for survival.”
Coushatta LaRue 
Leave a comment