We sat down with director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry, Pyewacket) to discuss his latest film, This Is Not a Test, ahead of its Canadian theatrical release on February 27. We dive deep into why he chose to adapt Courtney Summers' acclaimed YA novel, the decision to set the apocalypse in the 1990s, and how he balanced the visceral horror of a zombie outbreak with the heavy themes of teenage trauma and depression.
Content Warning: This interview includes discussions regarding depression and suicidal ideation

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
00:41 Adapting Courtney Summers’ Novel
01:27 Why a Zombie Film?
02:04 Balancing Horror with Teenage Trauma
03:16 Olivia Holt’s Character Arc (TW: Mental Health)
03:54 The 90s Aesthetic & The Age of Electric
05:51 Why the High School Setting Works
06:56 Where are the Adults?
08:01 Sloane and Her Sister (Minor Spoilers)
09:11 Adam MacDonald’s Next Project
09:50 Is a Sequel Possible?
10:27 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up
11:26 End Screen

We sat down with director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry, Pyewacket) to discuss his latest film, This Is Not a Test, ahead of its Canadian theatrical release on February 27.We dive deep into why he chose to adapt Courtney Summers' acclaimed YA novel, the decision to set the apocalypse in the 1990s, and how he balanced the visceral horror of a zombie outbreak with the heavy themes of teenage trauma and depression.

Content Warning: This interview includes discussions regarding depression and suicidal ideation Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:41 Adapting Courtney Summers’ Novel01:27 Why a Zombie Film?02:04 Balancing Horror with Teenage Trauma03:16 Olivia Holt’s Character Arc (TW: Mental Health)03:54 The 90s Aesthetic & The Age of Electric05:51 Why the High School Setting Works06:56 Where are the Adults?08:01 Sloane and Her Sister (Minor Spoilers)09:11 Adam MacDonald’s Next Project09:50 Is a Sequel Possible?10:27 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up11:26 End Screen

Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with actor Caleb Landry Jones to discuss his transformative lead performance in Luc Besson’s 2026 adaptation of Dracula. Known for his immersive preparation, Jones breaks down how he approached the 15th-century prince not as a monster, but as a man defined by four centuries of grief and eternal love. We explore the technical "madness" of the role and what it’s like to serve as a muse for one of cinema's most visionary directors.

Key Takeaways:

Resources Mentioned:

Read Sean’s Full Review: https://skonmovies.ca/review/dracula-2026

Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/osu05kOG9mw

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction and Context

0:41 – Caleb Landry Jones: Balancing the Man vs. the Vampire

2:12 – How this adaptation differs from previous screen versions

3:04 – The singular "moment" that defined the character for Caleb

4:19 – Wrap-Up

Note to Listeners: This episode is a professional analysis of the film's artistry and performances. Sean Kelly on Movies does not condone the allegations against the film's director but remains committed to covering the significant work of the cast and crew.