'This Is Not a Test' Review: Olivia Holt’s Gory Horror Story Is 'The Breakfast Club' Meets the Zombie Apocalypse

After Totally Killer and Heart Eyes, Olivia Holt has proven that she is a scream queen to watch. Although her latest film is more of a gory thriller than a horrific slasher, the actress continues to find her footing in spine-chilling territory through her portrayal in This Is Not a Test, an adaptation of Courtney Summers' novel. In it, Holt plays Sloane, a quiet teen who has lost all sense of hope ever since her mother and sister left her behind with her abusive father. When the world starts caving in, and most of her hometown's population shifts into gut-sucking creatures, Sloane is more than ready to accept her deadly fate. That is, until she finds refuge inside her high school alongside four other classmates who help reignite in her the will to survive. Writer-director Adam MacDonald's latest effort surprisingly balances zombie chaos with coming-of-age dynamics, making it more hopeful than most dystopian entries.

What Is 'This Is Not a Test' About?

Sloane isn't like most mopey teens. She keeps to herself because her reality at home is unbearable, especially after her older sister Lilly (Joelle Farrow) ran away. The film opens with Sloane in a bathtub, holding a suicide note addressed to Lilly, but before anything dire happens, her father bangs on the door calling her to eat breakfast. While she spreads butter on a crusty piece of toast, the sounds of the apocalypse ensue in her front yard, when neighbors start attacking each other in total frenzy. As blood drips down from their foamy mouths, everyone has lost their sense of self, and Sloane's father is only one of the people falling victim to the zombies' contagious bite.

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Unsure of where to go, the protagonist runs away as fast as she can, only stopping when she spots her classmates, Rhys (Froy Gutierrez), Cary (Corteon Moore), Grace (Chloe Avakian), and Trace (Carson MacCormac) in the middle of a crowd. Together, they start heading towards their high school building, believing that it might be their best bet for a hiding place. Mounting their own barricade and seeking refuge in the hallways that used to be filled with students, this mismatched group finds solace in each other's company, navigating the trials of a zombie takeover while still making time for drinking games and first kisses.

Olivia Holt's Performance Elevates This Atmospheric Zombie Flick

Image via Shudder

One of This Is Not a Test's greatest strengths is its ability to build a tumultuous atmosphere from the first scene onward. Through Lee Malia's dark, almost metal score and Pamela Bayne's frenetic editing, viewers are immediately pulled into this "hell on earth" environment, without any expository dialogue to explain how the zombie apocalypse began or how to stop it. The whole point is to show how this group of teenagers is trying to figure out how to protect themselves from the chaos surrounding them, and in Sloane's case, find a sense of hope in a hopeless place. Different from most zombie films, this one isn't entirely revolving around the zombies themselves, but rather how these creatures seemingly foil the internal struggles that Sloane is facing as a victim of a near-endless cycle of abuse. When Lilly leaves, Sloane is unable to see past her misery, so much so that when the apocalypse begins, she just feels like it is an additional reason to give up.

The character's emotional journey is at the heart of MacDonald's thriller, and Olivia Holt's performance captures that full well. Even though we aren't aware of what is happening during Sloane's very first scene in the bathtub, it is apparent that she is suffering. Holt portrays the protagonist with care, staying true to the character's slow progression towards healing. Her scenes with former Cruel Summer co-star Froy Gutierrez also help to establish Sloane's urge for connection despite the hardships she is facing. Much like any other teen her age, a zombie apocalypse helps to put things in perspective and ignites a desire for even the slightest sense of normalcy.

'This Is Not a Test' Doesn't Further Its Supporting Cast

Still, the film does limit its exploration of the supporting characters experiencing this bloody nightmare, particularly when it comes to Corteon Moore, Chloe Avakian, and Carson MacCormac's roles. The actors playing the other teens stuck inside the school get very limited development throughout the film. Although one would argue that that is typically the case for a thriller, this particular title blends YA elements that would require further moments of connection between the group. The drinking game isn't enough to allow us to know who some of these characters are, beyond the devastating situation they are dealing with. The film would've also benefited from more moments between Sloane and Lilly, so that the final sequence could have further emotional resonance.

Overall, This Is Not a Test brings an interesting blend of genres and uses its gory appeal for a greater purpose. The zombies might not be the main focus here, but that is for the better. It allows for the film to be less about survival of the fittest and more about finding reasons to carry on when the world is falling apart. Through the dark and even frigid atmosphere established from the beginning of this adaptation onward, audiences feel like they are immersed in the chaos and rooting for Sloane to find a way out of all the tragedy.

As she bonds with her school colleagues and even finds a potential romantic interest, the character is able to progressively let go of the pain she's been dealing with, and the glimmer returns to her eyes. Even though the film does struggle with giving the supporting characters enough material to make their presence more meaningful in the grand scheme of things, this is a slow-burning indie that will appease those less concerned with the zombie takeover and more drawn to the nuance of Sloane's character development. This Is Not a Test won't give you shivers, but its zombie invasion will leave you hopeful.

This Is Not a Test comes to theaters on February 20.

Release Date February 20, 2026

Runtime 102 minutes

Director Adam MacDonald

Writers Adam MacDonald, Courtney Summers

Producers Cybill Lui, Adam MacDonald

Cast

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Pros & Cons

• The director balances a zombie invasion with a hopeful coming-of-age story.
• The film has an atmospheric feel, thanks to the metal score and the frenetic editing.
• Olivia Holt's performance captures Sloane's slow progression towards healing.
• Holt and Froy Gutierrez build on the chemistry they already had in 'Cruel Summer'.

• 'This Is Not a Test' limits the supporting characters' arcs, making them almost one-dimensional.
• The ending doesn't quite land, because there isn't enough screentime dedicated to Sloane and Lilly's connection.