Grim look at effects of nuclear devastation on one family
The Cold War offered filmmakers many opportunities to deal with the threat of nuclear devastation in apocalyptic movies like “On the Beach,” “Dr. Strangelove,” and “Fail Safe.” One of the most wrenching, in terms of the effect on a normal American family, is “Testament.”<br /><br />The Wetherlys are a suburban family. Tom (William Devane, “Marathon Man”) and Carol (Jane Alexander, “Kramer vs. Kramer”) have three kids — teenager Mary Liz (Roxana Zal, “Firestorm”), 13-year-old Brad (Ross Harris, “Airplane!”), and very young Scottie (Lukas Haas, “Inception”). Tom is big on keeping fit and delights in racing with Brad up hills on their bikes. Brad is never able to entirely keep up. Mary Liz practices the piano. Scottie is rehearsing for his part as a mouse in a school play. The first twenty minutes introduce us to these characters, who go about their hurried daily lives like every other middle-class family.<br /><br />Their routines are interrupted one day when, with only the briefest of warnings, a nuclear bomb explodes in nearby San Francisco. A blinding white light is the only indication that the worst nightmare has just begun. Because they are several miles from the big city, Carol, the children, and most of their neighbors have escaped instant annihilation. Now they need to figure out how to deal with their new reality.<br /><br />Tom had gone to San Francisco on business that morning and Carol’s frantic efforts to reach him fail. The family is forced to accept that they may never see him again. The balance of the film deals with the aftermath of the explosion as the town’s residents cope with isolation and the gruesome effects of radiation begin to take their lethal toll.<br /><br />This is a disaster film with no special effects, no scenes of buildings being blown away, no graphic images of people being vaporized. We have no idea what led to the nuclear holocaust, and it doesn’t matter. The movie is horrifying in its understated simplicity. With the focus on a single family, it draws us in as we witness how they behave in a dire situation that can only have one outcome.<br /><br />Jane Alexander plays the mother who has to hold the family together even as the insidious radiation does its silent damage. In the beginning, she hurries through her day at home, helps direct a children’s play, and deals with some marital tension. She totally transforms when terrible circumstances demand it. Now protector, counselor, and cheerleader, she must be strong for her kids’ sake. Alexander communicates volumes with her expressions. Even as her character consoles and comforts the kids, we see how terrified she is for their future.<br /><br />Young Ross Harris turns in an extraordinary performance as middle child Brad. As conditions worsen, Brad checks up on neighbors regularly, riding his bike all across town. Harris has a sweet face but a stoic expression, suggesting that he will deal with the situation and not be beaten down by it. For a child actor, he conveys tremendous emotion and avoids overplaying. His is a subtle, highly effective performance.<br /><br />Among the supporting players are Kevin Costner (“Dances With Wolves”) and Rebecca De Mornay (“The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”) as a young couple with a newborn, Lilia Skala (“Lilies of the Field”) as a piano teacher, Leon Ames (“Meet Me in St. Louis”) as the grandfatherly Henry Abhart, who tries to contact other survivors with his ham radio<br /><br />The most accurate adjective to describe “Testament”  is “devastating.” Director Lynne Littman makes the movie about humanity rather than politics or history. She wisely avoids the who and why of the nuclear attack, staying with the Wetherlys and their personal struggle. Working with a limited budget, Littman never distracts us with fancy production values. John Sacret Young’s screenplay is lean, straightforward, and increasingly harrowing. Interestingly, “Testament” was released in theaters only two months after the two-part “The Day After,” about similar subject matter, was aired on television.<br /><br />Bonus materials include 2 audio commentaries, featurettes, nuclear age timeline, and the film’s theatrical trailer.<br /><br />“Testament” is about the relentless onset of mass death into peoples’ lives and how it becomes the new normal. Survivors in the suburbs deal with fallout and radiation sickness as an encroaching, unseen killer makes its way through the town and the Wetherly family. It’s rare that a film makes such a powerful impact.
The movie title "Testament," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.3 from 1044 reviewers. 
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 {"Genre": "Drama", "Format": "Import", "Contributor": "Leon Ames, Lynne Littman, Jane Alexander, Lukas Haas, Roxana Zal, Kevin Costner, Rossie Harris, Rebecca De Mornay, Lilia Skala, William DevaneLeon Ames, Lynne Littman, Jane Alexander, Lukas Haas, Roxana Zal, Kevin Costner, Rossie Harris, Rebecca De Mornay, Lilia Skala, William Devane  See more", "Runtime": "90 minutes", "Studio": "Imprint", "MPAA rating": "Unrated (Not Rated)", "Package Dimensions": "6.81 x 5.39 x 0.67 inches; 3.77 Ounces", "Director": "Lynne Littman", "Media Format": "Import", "Run time": "90 minutes", "Release date": "November 4, 2022", "Actors": "Jane Alexander, William Devane, Rossie Harris, Roxana Zal, Lukas Haas", "Subtitles": "English", "Language": "English (Dolby Digital 2.0)", "Number of discs": "1"}

Here is a brief synopsis of the title : TESTAMENT. TO A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST.There are errands to run, laundry to sort, piano lessons to tackle. But an ordinary day like any other ends abruptly with a startling TV news bulletin, followed moments later by a blinding flash. With her husband away and her three frightened children gathered around her, Carol Wetherly (Jane Alexander) must face the unthinkable - the devastating aftermath of a nuclear attack.Director Lynne Littman's gripping, deeply moving film garnered Alexander an Oscar nomination among a stellar cast.Starring Jane Alexander, William Devane, Roxana Zal, Lukas Haas, Rebecca de Mornay & Kevin Costner.Special Features and Technical Specs:1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-rayNEW Audio commentary by TV Movie expert Amanda ReyesNEW Audio commentary by David J Moore author of World Gone Wild: A Survivors Guide to Post-Apocalyptic MoviesTestament at 20 - featuretteTestament: Nuclear Thoughts - featuretteTimeline of the Nuclear AgeTheatrical TrailerAspect Ratio 1.78:1Audio English LPCM 2.0 MonoOptional English subtitlesLimited Edition slipcase on the first 1500 copies with unique artwork.