Fans have recommended one hit film, even though it left them « broken ». The post-apocalyptic drama, Testament, was originally released in 1983 and is still wowing audiences today.
Co-produced and directed by Lynne Littman and written by John Sacret Young, the 90-minute film is based on Carol Amen’s 1981 short story The Last Testament. It tells the story of how a small suburban town near the San Francisco Bay Area slowly falls apart after a nuclear war destroys outside civilisation, starring the likes of Jane Alexander, William Devane, Leon Ames, Ross Harris, Lukas Haas, Roxana Zal. Alexander was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance, while some fans have stated that her acting was « Oscar-worthy ». The film has been compared to the likes of The Day After and Threads, as they all cover life after a nuclear war, mostly in response to an increase in hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union. Fans have noted that these films also give a « sense of dread » but are a « must-see ».
Posting to Reddit, one fan asked: « Can I get some recommendations for films that give a similar feeling of dread when watching? » Another replied: « Testament is the movie you’re looking for. It’s rough. »
Someone else added: « I watched Testament when my kids were around Scottie’s age. The scene where she is with him in the bathroom broke me. I had to stop the film, walk out of the room and take time to recover.
« Jane Alexander’s acting was absolutely Oscar-worthy. Testament is a slow burn, but absolutely worth the watch. »
On IMDB, one viewer described the film as: « A small, brilliant gem of a film that still holds up after 20 years. »
Someone else penned: « This small film from 1983 might actually be more emotionally devastating than « Schindler’s List » because it presents us with a horrific ‘what-if’ scenario that I imagine scared the be-jesus out of viewers in the Cold War era that it was made and will send shivers down the spine of anyone who watches it today. »
While one more added: « A real heartbreaking film that shows the side of the human condition that we all have deep within us. There’s no big budgeted effects or over the top acting in this film.
« Just raw emotion, great acting and a real good script and direction that fuels this drama. I strongly recommend this movie for all the reasons I have stated. »
