This Is Not a Test (2025) Review: Olivia Holt Leads Emotional Zombie Horror Film

Overview of the Film (Warning contains Spoilers)

This Is Not a Test is a horror film starring Olivia Holt during a sudden zombie outbreak. The story follows teenagers trapped inside their high school while chaos spreads outside. Holt plays Sloane Price, a student already struggling with isolation and emotional exhaustion before the crisis begins. Once the outbreak hits, she and her classmates barricade themselves and try to survive a situation that quickly grows hopeless.

From the start, the movie emphasizes emotional and psychological tension rather than nonstop action. Moreover, it shows how fear, guilt, and trauma shape the group’s decisions. Additionally, the real suspense comes from the characters’ interactions rather than only from the infected outside. Therefore, the film feels more reflective and character-driven than typical zombie stories. Overall, it combines survival horror with intimate emotional stakes effectively.

Connection to the Book

The movie adapts the novel This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. Similarly, the book highlights personal struggle over survival action. Sloane’s internal thoughts and past trauma dominate the story, creating a psychological coming-of-age element within the apocalypse. Furthermore, the novel explores depression, grief, and hopelessness alongside the literal chaos of the outbreak.

In my opinion, the film captures many themes from the book but cannot explore them in equal depth. However, it conveys Sloane’s emotional journey visually and through her interactions. Still, the sense of intimacy and internal reflection from the book is somewhat reduced. Nevertheless, the adaptation balances the story so that new viewers can understand Sloane’s struggles and the stakes of the outbreak.

Directing and Cinematic Style

Director Adam MacDonald emphasizes emotion and tension instead of visual spectacle. Most of the movie takes place inside the high school, keeping focus on relationships rather than the larger disaster. He also moves the camera closely with the actors, following them through hallways and classrooms. Consequently, this approach immerses viewers directly in the story while intensifying the claustrophobic setting.

The visual tone of the film feels deliberately bleak. Muted lighting and shadows create isolation, making the school feel like its own character. Moreover, this style communicates fear and tension without relying on jump scares or excessive action. While the slow-burn method supports emotional reflection, it sometimes causes pacing to feel uneven and drawn-out.

Themes and Emotional Core

One major theme is hopelessness, trauma, and the need to find reasons to survive. Sloane enters the story burdened by emotional baggage, which the outbreak amplifies. Furthermore, the story contrasts external danger with internal fear, showing how despair affects survival decisions. Consequently, viewers see the apocalypse through both physical and psychological perspectives.

Trust and group dynamics also drive the plot. The students must work together while facing extreme stress. Conflicts emerge, loyalties are tested, and moments of compassion become meaningful due to desperation. In my opinion, these interactions are the most compelling part of the story, showing how fear and trauma affect relationships unexpectedly. Additionally, the movie explores mental health by connecting trauma to decision-making and behavior under pressure.

Acting and Character Engagement

The acting delivered mixed results in my experience. Olivia Holt carries the film and portrays a withdrawn, conflicted, and emotionally distant Sloane. Her subtle moments of reflection and fear are believable, but I sometimes struggled to fully connect with her. Occasionally, I wished for more explicit insight into her thoughts and emotions.

Supporting actors, including Froy Gutierrez and Luke Macfarlane, give adequate performances, yet their characters feel less distinct. Most of the group reacts to fear rather than showing fully developed personalities. Consequently, in my opinion, it felt harder to invest in their survival compared to Sloane’s story. Furthermore, quiet performances combined with the slower pacing reduced emotional engagement at times.

Pacing and Story Structure

The film moves slowly, focusing on dialogue, planning, and waiting periods. While this emphasizes the story’s emotional weight, it sometimes caused my attention to drift. Moreover, tension did not always rise consistently, which made certain sequences feel static. The confined school setting added suspense but limited variety, occasionally making the movie feel repetitive. Therefore, the pacing affected my ability to stay fully immersed.

Nevertheless, this slow approach allows the movie to highlight character struggles and psychological tension. In my opinion, it gives viewers time to reflect on the characters’ decisions and relationships. Although uneven at times, the structure strengthens the focus on Sloane’s emotional journey.

Strengths and Weaknesses

This Is Not A Test, strongest aspect is its concept, combining a zombie apocalypse with a personal, character-driven story. Additionally, it emphasizes trauma, trust, and survival, creating layers missing from many typical zombie films. The high school setting enhances claustrophobia, and MacDonald’s focus on small moments strengthens suspense and reflection. Overall, these elements make the story more intimate than most genre films.

However, weaknesses remain. Slow pacing, limited character development outside of Sloane, and uneven tension sometimes reduced the story’s impact. In my opinion, these flaws prevent the film from fully achieving its emotional intensity. Consequently, viewers expecting more traditional horror or action may feel less engaged at times.

Final Thoughts

Overall, This Is Not a Test presents a thoughtful take on the zombie genre, emphasizing psychological and emotional survival. Olivia Holt anchors the story, and MacDonald’s directing style creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. However, slower pacing and limited engagement with supporting characters sometimes make the film hard to follow.

In my view, the movie shines when it focuses on Sloane’s journey and the group’s dynamics. Furthermore, horror fans who enjoy character drama over nonstop action may appreciate it. Still, I felt the story unevenly balanced tension and emotion. Even so, it offers a fresh and intimate perspective on survival horror, showing how fear and trauma shape human behavior in crises.