Testament (1983)

Stars	User	Rating
4	Barthalen	71 _59th
From the moments the bombs fall, you know it will be a grim descent from there. And it was. Maybe not many surprises in the developments, but keeping the focus on the family at least gives a decently depressing effect. Too bad about the music... a sober approach would have been less obviously heartstring-tugging.
3	BillyShears	70 _53rd
It's sad stuff but alas I have the power of amazing foresight, I know that the Kevin Costner in this movie will go on to be the Postman. I'd be expecting the Road Warrior , riding into the sunset with my assless chaps and boomerangs only to have all my skin slough off while I hoot and holler like a lunatic as my radiated brains fall out. I do not like when a movie's music tries to influence how I should feel and make me notice that it's doing it. I can only handle so many flutes and strings.
2	MartinTeller	68 _32nd
Not a terribly good film (though not too shabby by made-for-TV standards) but it is effective, and depressing. Points deducted for extra-cheesy musical score.
2	Moribunny	30 _15th
Testament is a post-apocalyptic family drama. Supposedly, nuclear bombs fall on the U.S, though not in the vicinity of Hamlin California, so life seems to go on almost normally with the family running gingerly in the fields and mom giving life advice to the kids, until they start dying off with hardly any prior signs of illness. The film seems to believe its own amoral absurdity. Sappy music abounds. "Realistic and believable"?? Watch "Threads".
2	Cotote2018	84 _82nd
A great premise. And it delivers pretty well.
1	TheDiceman	75 _89th
On power with films such as Threads and The day after which should be compulsory viewing for everyone.
1	chemical404	14 _2nd
Probably the sappiest movie about post-apocalypse ever made. A movie for the whole family set in 'American dream' suburbia; characters are heroic kid who drives bike really fast and stays strong for the mom, who does her best to keep it all together and bakes cakes for the neighbor kid with downs during nuclear fallout. It's just horrible.
1	Jazzaloha	74 _83rd
haunting--from the things the director doesn't show.
1	hellboy76	68 _65th
Definitely dated, with some confusing music and directing choices, its still a decent grim look at the after effects of a community dealing with post bomb shenanigans.
1	Jerky	55 _59th
Not nearly as grim or depressing as it wants to be. The British film "Threads" was done better, in my opinion.
1	glumpy_99	96 _91st
Deeply emotional and moving drama, which pulls off the simultaneous feat of never succumbing to sentimentality. Alexander's lead performance is a powerhouse, and the supporting cast of largely child actors are equally affecting. Writing is incredibly perceptive and realistic in the ways I would expect many communities would react in similar circumstances. A welcome counter to the many more graphic renderings of similar material in the 1980s; a forgotten gem ripe for rediscovery.
1	braddad68	95 _84th
Wow! Not sure how I missed this one. Powerful and moving portrayal of one family in the aftermath of a nuclear war.
1	juntakinte99	77 _53rd
No other 80's picture updated 50's sci-fi with this much realism. It avoids mawkishness (outside of home movie flashbacks & a special needs kid) and instead focuses on stark depictions of suicide, radiation poisoning, and child death. As a PBS TV movie turned art film, it's focused on showing humanity's fate. Still, Jane Alexander gives a strong performance. And as a bonus you see a tiny Lukas Haas--oddly with his same adult face. Recommended if you're fine with avoiding Hollywood escapism.

Average Percentile 58.86% from 151 Ratings