Set in a small town in Oregon in 1982, excitable film fan Reels (Drew Scheid) learns that the cinema he helps out in is going to host a test screening of a big Hollywood movie. Convinced it’s going to be Return of the Jedi, he gets all his friends to attend. Once the film ends and the audience leaves, they begin to behave differently. Having fallen asleep during the movie, Reels is unaffected, and Penny (Chloë Kerwin, who gives a stunningly effective performance) is forbidden to go by her pious preacher father (Sean Bridgers), so they team up to try to find out what’s going on.
Test Screening proudly has its influences front and centre. They range from Invasion of the Body Snatchers to Society, but no matter how familiar the story might be, director Clark Baker (who co-wrote with Stephen Susco) has crafted an engaging tale full of characters that we want to root for. They are personally flawed, natural people and when they are under the ‘influence’ of the film their lack of emotion to Reels and, particularly, Penny feels alien. Penny’s infatuation with Mia (Rain Spencer) is at first reciprocated, but the post-movie ghosting is heartbreaking. The bigger picture of what’s going on isn’t as far-fetched as you’d imagine, but the outcome is gloriously twisted.
The scenario of a group of youngsters trying to figure out a mystery has been so commonplace in cinema for years that it’s become a cliché, particularly post-Stranger Things. However, Baker has crafted his own take on the theme perfectly, populating his town with characters who are fleshed out well. This test screening is one you shouldn’t skip.
TEST SCREENING played at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest on August 22nd.
