‘This Is Not A Test’ Review – Solid Zombie Affair Works Even Better As A Character Drama

We have been marinated, and perhaps overcooked, in zombie movies for years. And not just movies, but TV series as well. The subgenre, or perhaps it is fair to call it its own genre at this point, offers little fertile ground to break for fresh interpretation. This brings me to the film This is Not a Test, another apocalyptic zombie massacre, centering on a small group of students taking refuge in their high school. Think Red Dawn with zombies. The zombie iconography is nothing we have not seen. What separates this from a familiar gambit is Olivia Holt’s killer performance. The story, while at times redundant, breathes interesting life and gives us the last thing you might expect in a zombie flick: unabashed hope.

The film opens, and we meet Sloane (Olivia Holt), a teen suffering from crippling depression and living at home with her abusive father. The story is nonlinear, weaving in her backstory of a broken home and how Sloane came to be reunited with her ragtag band of survivors. Setting the film in 1998 allows for a cozy semblance of nostalgia. There is a poignant reminder of a time when the world seemed a little less scary. Still, as the situation develops, a mishap in the small town spreads an infection among the populace. As a result, Sloane flees her home and takes shelter elsewhere.

Much of the story takes place in the makeshift shelter that Sloane and her fellow compatriots establish at the school. The leader, Cary (Corteon Moore), tries to keep the peace and establish some sense of order as the group attempts to survive together. Tensions rise when one of the teachers, Mr. Baxter (Luke Macfarlane), takes refuge, leading to a stirring reckoning with the group. 

As for the zombie matter, the story is much what I expect from the genre. In fact, even though the effects are impressive and the scare thrilling, the most captivating part of This is Not a Test is the emotional element involving the living characters, especially Sloane. 

Much of the story centers on Sloane’s abusive home life. She is separated from her sister Lily (Joelle Farrow), who left her seemingly in the lurch with their abusive father. Sloane is in a fragile state when we first meet her in the film. Her crumbling home life and the seeming betrayal by her sister led her to leave town. While the zombie apocalypse is the narrative throughline of this story, the real linchpin is the character’s fraying mental state.

In addition to being a story of basic survival and overcoming the odds, This is Not a Test becomes a story of hope. And not only in the sense of hope to survive a zombie apocalypse, but also in the hope to survive through the mental health battles that characters like Sloane are facing. Sloane is suicidal when we first meet her and remains so throughout much of the film. Her mental contrast stands out from those around her, who, despite the difficulties, want to make it through to another day. 

There is a beautiful rallying cry as Sloane confronts her own demons. Interestingly, the film frames the ultimate source of this confrontation with her on-the-run sister. The result is both gruelling and despondent, and yet cathartic. Olivia Holt, who is no stranger to horror fans, is on top of her game in this film. She crafts a character who is on the edge when we first meet her. Her struggles are authentic, and Holt breathes a backstory of pathos and resilience that is relatable, even amid all the guts and gore. 

In the film, we see Sloane fight to emerge from despondency. She is so withdrawn that she does not care whether she makes it through the day. Can she embrace life despite the ongoing terror around her? Her story becomes one that touches the heart and reminds anyone who has struggled with mental health issues to keep fighting for another day. Holt deserves tremendous props for creating a character far from the stock types found in these films. The zombie elements are almost tangential to the human story in the film, and that’s what elevates the movie. It is not only frightening but also has something to say that is both affirming and uplifting.

This Is Not A Test will debut exclusively in theaters on February 20, 2026, courtesy of Independent Film Company and Shudder.