Watch This is Not a Test

This is Not a Test is a post-apocalyptic thriller from 1962 directed by Frederic Gadette. The movie starts off with a cold open of a highway patrol officer stopping a car for speeding. Suddenly, an emergency broadcast signal is heard over the radio warning of a possible nuclear attack. The officer orders the driver, insurance salesman Mike Green (played by Seamon Glass), out of his car to take cover. Mike eventually wanders off on foot to a nearby diner where 11 other strangers are taking refuge.

To set the scene, the movie was filmed in black and white and captures the dreariness of small-town America. It has a stylishly low-budget feel to it, with dialogue and characters that are typical of the era. At the diner, the patrons have varying personalities, from the gruff trucker who isn't afraid to speak his mind to the worried mother who worries about her child at home. The tension builds as the people in the diner try to figure out what happens next. They are trapped in a confined space, and the radio is their only source of information.

As time progresses, it becomes more and more apparent that the nuclear threat is real. The outside world is gradually destroyed by the blast, and the radio broadcasts become more frantic. The individuals in the diner start to panic as they become more aware of the gravity of the situation. The viewer sees the post-apocalyptic world through their eyes, as chaos reigns and government and authority break down.

The movie's tension is heightened by the fact that the audience never learns much about the characters, save for a few scattered lines of dialogue. The lack of characterization focuses more on the situation at hand, highlighting the desperation that grips the group. The acting is not outstanding, but it works due to the simplicity of the characters. They react as people would realistically if faced with such a disaster.

At 73 minutes long, the pace of the movie is brisk. There isn't a moment where the tension eases up. It's just one long build-up to the final moments. Even as the radio broadcasts become more horrifying, there is still a glimmer of hope for the group trapped in the diner. They cling to the idea that somehow, they will survive. But it is the ending, when hope is snuffed out, where the movie is at its most potent.

This is Not a Test is a movie that captures the fear of nuclear war during the Cold War era. Though it was made more than half a century ago, its themes feel relevant to the modern world. It is an unheralded movie, yet one that is still worth seeking out for fans of the genre.

This is Not a Test is a 1962 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 13 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.