This Is Not a Test

I suppose the writing was on the wall for this with the opening titles. No mention at all of the acting "talent" but at least four of Frederic Gadette who appears to have done all but make the coffee. The plot sees a single police officer "Colter" (Seamon Glass) being charged with operating a roadblock on a remote highway. That's my first problem. He is stop both directions at the same spot - there is no accident, he is not inspecting the vehicles and when asked why by the surprisingly high number of travellers, he could hardly be less informative. Anyway, it soon transpires that the USA is under a nuclear attack and the film now attempts to deal with just how folks would deal; in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, with that information. The budget went on the coffee, if there was one. It is shockingly badly lit; the dialogue is barely audible and the characterisations - especially toward the end of this overlong 80 minute endeavour - fall flat every time. The acting is pedestrian, and what could have provided an interesting insight into human behaviour when facing imminent annihilation, just turned into a pretty badly presented affair with little to redeem it. It's not a bad idea, but the execution is really very poor.