Test Screening review: Engrossing and nostalgic body horror with a queer love story

A conservative small town gets selected to host a special film screening that turns out to be a mind-control experiment with devastating consequences in Test Screening, a confident and charming feature directorial debut from Clark Baker that recently screened at Screamfest 2024.

Set in 1982, Test Screening follows a core group of lifelong friends who find themselves intrigued by a notable Hollywood filmmaker choosing their town as a place to showcase an exciting new film. But in this twisted sci-fi story, that reminded me a little bit of the short-lived Hulu anthology series Dimension 404 and the John Carpenter classic They Live.

Funnily enough, I wound up watching Test Screening almost immediately after The Substance, and I won't spoil either film here, but there is a climactic and terrifying scene at the end of Test Screening that perfectly parallels the third act of The Substance.

The idea of a movie screening turning into something used as a method to control the masses has been toyed with before, but I appreciated the honesty of Test Screening that taps into the fear one might get from having a safe space turned into something so warped and twisted. Test Screening is anchored by its four main cast members, Johnny Berchtold, Drew Scheid, Rain Spencer, and Chloë Kerwin, plus the sweet queer love story at the center.

I loved that Test Screening took bold swings that really paid off, helped along by effective and suitably grotesque practical effects and very charming performances from the core characters. The film smartly avoids falling into the typical 1980s trope characters and instead creates heartfelt characters that feel like real people, predominantly in Scheid's character Reels and Kerwin's girl-next-door type Penny. They help ground the movie even amid the wackier aspects.

Admittedly, the script does feel a little weak in some parts, a little too over-explanatory, but I still had a great time with Test Screening and would love to see it streaming because I think it would resonate with younger viewers.

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