Overview
- IFC Films and Shudder released the R-rated zombie thriller in theaters on February 20, 2026.
- This Is Not a Test adapts Courtney Summers’ 2012 novel, with Adam MacDonald writing and directing a 1990s-set story.
- The plot follows Sloane and a small group of classmates who barricade inside their high school during the outbreak’s first hours, foregrounding trauma and suicidal ideation.
- Positive reviews highlight Olivia Holt’s performance and a tense, bleak atmosphere that folds coming-of-age beats into survival horror.
- Critical pans cite formulaic plotting, thin supporting characters, disjointed editing, and muddy visuals, with multiple outlets flagging craft and structural issues.