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IMDbPro

Testament

  • 19831983
  • PGPG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
Testament (1983)
The life of a suburban American family is scarred after a nuclear attack.
Play trailer1:14
1 Video
45 Photos
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
The life of a suburban American family is scarred after a nuclear attack.The life of a suburban American family is scarred after a nuclear attack.The life of a suburban American family is scarred after a nuclear attack.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lynne Littman
  • Writers
    • Carol Amen(based on the story "The Last Testament" by)
    • John Sacret Young(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jane Alexander
    • William Devane
    • Rossie Harris
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lynne Littman
  • Writers
    • Carol Amen(based on the story "The Last Testament" by)
    • John Sacret Young(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jane Alexander
    • William Devane
    • Rossie Harris
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 114User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:14
    Teaser Trailer

    Photos45

    Jane Alexander, Lukas Haas, Rossie Harris, and Roxana Zal in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander, Lukas Haas, and Roxana Zal in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander and William Devane in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander, Lukas Haas, and Rossie Harris in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander, Rossie Harris, and Gerry Murillo in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander and William Devane in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander and Roxana Zal in Testament (1983)
    William Devane and Rossie Harris in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander, Philip Anglim, and Rossie Harris in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander and Rossie Harris in Testament (1983)
    Jane Alexander and Lukas Haas in Testament (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jane Alexander
    Jane Alexander
    • Carol Wetherlyas Carol Wetherly
    William Devane
    William Devane
    • Tom Wetherlyas Tom Wetherly
    Rossie Harris
    Rossie Harris
    • Brad Wetherlyas Brad Wetherly
    • (as Ross Harris)
    Roxana Zal
    Roxana Zal
    • Mary Liz Wetherlyas Mary Liz Wetherly
    Lukas Haas
    Lukas Haas
    • Scottie Wetherlyas Scottie Wetherly
    Philip Anglim
    Philip Anglim
    • Hollisas Hollis
    Lilia Skala
    Lilia Skala
    • Faniaas Fania
    Leon Ames
    Leon Ames
    • Henry Abhartas Henry Abhart
    Lurene Tuttle
    Lurene Tuttle
    • Rosemary Abhartas Rosemary Abhart
    Rebecca De Mornay
    Rebecca De Mornay
    • Cathy Pitkinas Cathy Pitkin
    Kevin Costner
    Kevin Costner
    • Phil Pitkinas Phil Pitkin
    Mako
    Mako
    • Mikeas Mike
    Mico Olmos
    • Larryas Larry
    Gerry Murillo
    • Hiroshias Hiroshi
    J. Brennan Smith
    • Billdockeras Billdocker
    Lesley Woods
    Lesley Woods
    • Lady Mayoras Lady Mayor
    Wayne Heffley
    Wayne Heffley
    • Police Chiefas Police Chief
    William G. Schilling
    William G. Schilling
    • Pharmacistas Pharmacist
    • (as William Schilling)
    • Director
      • Lynne Littman
    • Writers
      • Carol Amen(based on the story "The Last Testament" by)
      • John Sacret Young(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kevin Costner has said that he has never forgotten this film and the powerful influence it has had on him. Costner would later star during the 1990s in such post-apocalyptic movies as Waterworld (1995) and The Postman (1997).
    • Quotes

      Brad Wetherly: [after finding Hiroshi abandoned at home] I'd better take you home with me, Hiroshi... because I don't think your dad is coming back.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Deal of the Century/Richard Pryor Here and Now/Testament/The Dead Zone/The Osterman Weekend (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      All My Loving
      (1963)

      By John Lennon and Paul McCartney

      Produced by Andrew Dorfman

      Performed by Mitch Weissman

      Courtesy of Mac Len Music

    User reviews114

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A real horror film
    Forget Freddie and Jason, if you want a real horror film then I recommend this because I think it will keep most normal people awake long into the night. This film doesn't rely on gore or violence to get its message across; instead it takes the very familiar scene of a loving young family living in a close-knit town and dumps them into the harsh, harrowing realities of nuclear war where there is no mercy for either the good or the innocent.

    'Testament' is a tale of what would happen if a nuclear strike devastated America and how average people, who have no military training or the like, would cope. There is no computer virus to fix things nor is there some hunky, muscular hero to save the day; people are left to fend for themselves in a world forever changed, in conditions that are unforgiving and demoralising. The film revolves mainly around the Wetherly family, made up by parents- Carol and Tom - and their three children, fourteen-year-old Mary Liz, twelve-year-old Brad and six-year-old Scottie and it packs no punches for the fate of this little group.

    For a film that couldn't have had a massive budget, not only is the script of good quality but so was the acting. Jane Alexander was excellent as a Carol, a mother striving to see her family through this disaster, watching as the town around her dwindles as people die of radiation poisoning or flee for safer pastors. But Ross Harris definitely deserves recognition for his part as young Brad. Through him, we are able to see how a child would deal with such an event and how the innocence of childhood is brought to a sharp end as Brad is forced to take the role of an adult for the sake of his family.

    After seeing 'Testament', I don't think I'll ever really stop pondering the issues it raised and how it is vitally important that the governments of all countries do anything and everything to ensure we never have to deal with such an event in real life. It is very thought-provoking and terrifying in a way no horror flick can be. And if you want to add to your trauma, I recommend checking out 'Threads' (the same situation only set in England and so chilling that it makes this film out to be a bag of laughs) and 'The Day After'.
    helpful•37
    8
    • cosmic_quest
    • Nov 1, 2005

    FAQ7

    • Where did Hiroshi's dad disappear to?
    • What exactly happened with the bombs to make the small town suburb setting one of the few places spared?
    • What is wrong with Hiroshi?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 5, 1984 (Argentina)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das letzte Testament
    • Filming locations
      • Sierra Madre, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Entertainment Events
      • American Playhouse
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,044,892
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $317,996
      • Nov 6, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,044,892
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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