Testament (1983)

Nuclear war in the United States is portrayed in a realistic and believable manner. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Lynne Littman
Written By: John Sacret Young, Carol Amen
Starring: Kevin Costner, Mako, William Devane, Lukas Haas, Jane Alexander, Rebecca De Mornay, Roxana Zal, Rossie Harris, Philip Anglim
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Where to Stream
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Testament belongs to 14 collections
1. Female Directors (collaborative: moderated by djross - 90 stars)
2. Post Apocalyptic (collaborative: moderated by edkrak - 27 stars)
3. Academy Award - Oscar - ALL Best Picture, Directing, Acting & Screenplay Nominees (collaborative - 22 stars)
4. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (collaborative: moderated by Cinephile - 19 stars)
5. Best by different standards (public: sesito71 - 6 stars)
6. Nuclear war (collaborative: moderated by djross - 5 stars)
7. Classic CHUD: 100 Movies That Deserve More Love (collaborative: moderated by tinysausage - 5 stars)
8. NBR Top 10 Films (collaborative: moderated by xacviant - 1 star)
9. Films available in HD (supplement) (collaborative: moderated by Jorg - 1 star)
10. Post-Apocalypse (public: normalman - 1 star)
11. Roger Ebert's Top 10 Films of 1983 (collaborative)
12. James Horner (composer) (collaborative: moderated by djross)
13. Available on Divicast (collaborative: moderated by Dunstan-xxx)
14. Bilimkurgu Mucizeleri (public: Ozancan)
Browse the full list of collections
Stars | User | Rating | |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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".
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Cotote2018 | 84 82nd |
A great premise. And it delivers pretty well.
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TheDiceman | 75 89th |
On power with films such as Threads and The day after which should be compulsory viewing for everyone.
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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.
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1 | Jazzaloha | 74 83rd |
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haunting--from the things the director doesn't show.
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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.
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Jerky | 55 59th |
Not nearly as grim or depressing as it wants to be. The British film "Threads" was done better, in my opinion.
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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.
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1 | braddad68 | 95 84th |
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Wow! Not sure how I missed this one. Powerful and moving portrayal of one family in the aftermath of a nuclear war.
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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.
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Average Percentile 58.86% from 151 Ratings | ![]() |