Testament Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Testament Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 16, 2025

Lynne Littman's "Testament" (1983) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include two audio commentaries; archival program with cast and crew members; original trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

CQ, CQ, is anybody out there?

Testament is equally easy to praise and dismiss. It is very effective because it hits suddenly and leaves an impression of the kind that never truly fades away. If you see it, you will ponder several what-if scenarios, all of them terrible, and the more time you spend with them, the easier it will become for you to concede that they are entirely realistic. However, as odd as it may sound, it is precisely for this reason that Testament also becomes easy to dismiss. The scenarios you will ponder are now largely outdated. Testament comes from the 1980s, and its grasp of the massive disaster that a nuclear war instantly becomes is limited by its understanding of the damage nuclear weapons can cause. Indeed, the latest nuclear weapons are many, many times more powerful than the ones that would have been used during the 1980s. They are a lot more precise, too. If used, the latest nuclear weapons would not leave any civilian survivors. The only lucky survivors would be a few high-ranking government officials who will be rushed to underground bunkers, and possibly a few of the wealthiest and most paranoid residents of this planet, all with valuable military connections, who have been preparing for and anticipating Armageddon for decades. Ironically, if you agree that Testament is a product of its era and accept that the latest nuclear weapons are many times more powerful and precise, you are again looking at an outdated scenario. In the present, if the tragedy that Testament warns about is to occur, it will not be initiated by nuclear weapons because they are essentially a boogeyman for the masses. Today, the military has advanced, far more lethal weapons whose ability to cause instant and total annihilation is impossible to reference and/or visualize for the masses.

The narrative is broken into two uneven, vastly different parts. The first part works with material that you would encounter in the likes of Mr. Mom and Summer Rental. In a quiet and safe, predictably beautiful provincial area of sunny California, Carol (Jane Alexander) and Tom Wetherly (William Devane) are raising their children and growing older while still very much in love with each other. As they are seen interacting, it becomes clear that each day of their existence is a happy one. The second part begins with a big bang that virtually all of the adults in the area instantly recognize. In the hours after it, Carol realizes that Tom will not come home, and San Francisco, where he is employed, no longer exists. The survivors then gather in the local church, a few struggling to remain composed and most visibly shaken, even borderline paranoid, where a doctor reluctantly reveals that they will all be suffering the various deadly consequences of nuclear radiation. Canned food and bottled water are rationed. A local gas station begins distributing what it has left in its storage tanks. Because electricity is cut off, all batteries in the area become priceless. Carol continues taking care of the children, often assuring them that Tom will soon be back, but at night, in the dark, her mind forces her to accept that her unconvincing acting will soon become utterly meaningless.

Virtually all of the horror is seen through Carol’s eyes or summarized by her chillingly calm narration. As a result, it will not be inappropriate to describe Testament as an intimate film. However, Testament hits really hard because it captures the essence of The End. Indeed, the horror has a certain significance only while Carol drives around the area, observing and interacting, and it seems like some survivors, like a couple that decides to roll the dice and head up to Canada, may figure out how to continue living. But the horror gradually becomes irrelevant because everyone who should be able to comprehend it and its scope is dying.

Testament Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Testament arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

The release is sourced from an old master supplied by Paramount. While the limitations of this master are very easy to identify, I think that it offers a good and attractive presentation of the film. Its biggest strength is the lack of any compromising digital corrections. Delineation, clarity, and depth range from good to very good, and while color reproduction can be more convincing, especially in terms of saturation, the overall balance between the primaries and supporting nuances remains surprisingly decent. Also, a lot of the darker material from the second half of the film reveals pretty good shadow nuances. There are no image stability issues. I noticed a few white specks, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, marks, warped or torn frames. So, if in the future Testament is properly redone in 2K or 4K, it will easily acquire a healthier and more vibrant organic appearance. However, this release treats it unexpectedly well. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Testament Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not notice any serious age-related anomalies to report in our review. I thought that clarity, sharpness, and balance remained very good throughout the entire film. In some areas, there were even wonderfully nuanced dynamic contrasts, though the original soundtrack does not have any material where dynamic strength of the kind that makes action films impressive can become a significant factor. The upper register is healthy.

Testament Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Testament at 20 - in this archival program, director and producer Lynne Littman, executive producer Lindsay Law, cinematographer Steven Poster, and cast members recalls their collaboration on Testament. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• Testament: Nuclear Thoughts - this archival program focuses on the devastating power that nuclear weapons have and features clips from archival interviews, some with cast members. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Timeline of the Nuclear Age - a short text description of the nuclear age. Presented with music. (3 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Testament. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Commentary One - this audio commentary was recorded by critic Amanda Reyes.

• Commentary Two - this audio commentary was recorded by author David J. Moore.

Testament Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the past, a nuclear war was a pointless war because, contrary to what some military strategists believed, it could not be won. Today, it seems fair to declare that a nuclear war is an oxymoron. Contemporary nuclear weapons, which are no longer the most lethal, are incompatible with the classic definition of war. They can be used only to instantly initiate The End. Even though it is several decades old now, Testament is about the initiation of The End. While its grasp and visualization of it are predictably dated, its conclusion that if The End arrives, everything becomes meaningless is spot on. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.