Shudder/IFC has acquired the rights to This is Not a Test, which was written and directed by Adam MacDonald. MacDonald also wrote and directed Pyewacket and Back Country. The film made its debut at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival this month.
This is Not a Test is a zombie outbreak story seen through the eyes of Sloane and her high school classmates, who are trapped in their school during the fabled zombie apocalypse. Sloane has a troubled past, was abused by her father, and has suicidal thoughts. As the danger grows, she steps up to take the lead in saving herself and her classmates, while also getting to know them. The film is based on the Young Adult novel of the same title, which was written by Courtney Summers.
This Is Not a Test will release in theatres in the US, Ireland, UK, Australia and New Zeland in 2026.
It stars Olivia Holt of Heart Eyes, Froy Gutierrez (The Strangers), Luke MacFarlane (Bros), Chloe Avakian (John Wayne Gacy), Corteon Moore (Overcompensating) and Carson MacCormac, who appeared in Clown in a Cornfield.
MacDonald said he was first drawn to the project after reading Courtney Summers’ book. He said the book “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.” He praised Olivia Holt’s portrayal of Sloane, and said he was “beyond thrilled” that This is Not a Test was picked up by Independent Film Company and Shudder.
In return, IFC’s Director of Acquisitions and Productions Adam Koehler described Adam MacDonald as having an amazing ability to “elevate genre filmmaking with heart, intelligence and raw human emotion.”
Adam MacDonald’s best-known film to date is probably Pyewacket. That film introduced us to a teenager named Leah, who has a deep fascination with the occult and black magic. When Leah’s father dies, her mother moves them into a remote home in the woods, seeking a new life. Being a typical teen, Leah resents having to move away from her friends, and performs a black magic spell in the woods, hoping the spell will kill her mother.
Shortly afterwards, she and her mother start to bond, and Leah becomes desperate to stop the curse before it sets in. Pyewacket has been praised by critics for its emphasis on emotional trauma and strong storytelling. And with This is Not a Test ‘s subject matter concerning mental health, it feels like that’s right in MacDonald’s wheelhouse.