By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The adaptation of Courtney Summers’ popular YA novel is heading for release next year.
Independent Film Company and Shudder have announced their acquisition of U.S., UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand rights to THIS IS NOT A TEST, the zombie thriller from writer/director Adam MacDonald (BACKCOUNTRY, OUT COME THE WOLVES). The movie will hit theaters in 2026; it screens this Friday, October 17 at 9:15 at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, with MacDonald in attendance. Olivia Holt (HEART EYES), Froy Gutierrez (THE STRANGERS–CHAPTER 1), Luke MacFarlane, Corteon Moore, Chloe Avakian and Carson MacCormac star; the synopsis: “THIS IS NOT A TEST follows Sloane [Holt] and a small group of her classmates who take cover in their high school to escape their suddenly apocalyptic hometown. As danger relentlessly pounds on the doors, Sloane begins to see the world through the eyes of people who actually want to live and takes matters into her own hands.”
“Courtney Summers’ book THIS IS NOT A TEST captivated me completely with its raw energy and dynamic characters, a story I felt personally and knew it had to be brought to the screen,” MacDonald says. “I couldn’t be happier with Olivia Holt’s exceptional talent stepping into Sloane’s shoes (Docs) and bringing her to life. I’m beyond thrilled the film is in great hands and found a home with Independent Film Company and Shudder, a team that puts so much passion into the films they release. Producer Cybill Lui and I brought together the very best creative team to realize this deeply emotional, gritty, intense film, one that puts you on the very edge of your seat and will leave you with hope at the end of the world.”
“Adam MacDonald has an unmatched ability to elevate genre filmmaking with heart, intelligence, and raw human emotion,” says Independent Film Company’s director of acquisitions and productions Adam Koehler. “We’re thrilled to bring THIS IS NOT A TEST to a new generation of viewers who crave horror that hits both the gut and the soul.”
