The critically acclaimed film, TEST, had its world premiere on June 3, 2026, at SXSW London. It follows Eddie, played by the production’s writer and lead actor Brock Yurich, who is navigating the conflicting worlds of hyper-masculine bodybuilding, religion, and being in the closet.
SXSW’s description of the movie reads, “Eddie (Brock Yurich) dreams of becoming a bodybuilding champion and escaping rural Ohio. His gruelling training routine makes it easier to hide unspoken desires from a doting mother and girlfriend, but the pressures of an upcoming championship and the arrival of a charming coach bring his pretense to a startling halt.”
It continues, saying, “In a world where conversations around societal expectations on the body — both when it comes to performance and aesthetics — are everywhere, Sam McConnell (the director) offers a sharp insight into the dichotomy between a polished exterior and crumbling interior, all while sensitively observing the joys and challenges of realising one’s queerness in an environment hostile to difference.”
The film has been lauded by critics for its expert portrayals of queer religious shame in midwestern rural America, with Marcus Thorne calling it “a queer bodybuilding film about shame, spectacle, and the terrible cost of being seen clearly.”
Queerguru‘s review, by David Allen, likens Yurich’s performance in TEST to the rise of Sylvester Stallone in Rocky, “with this delicately crafted, poignant movie, set in a similarly hyper-masculine world”. Allen adds that Yurich “is a name to watch out for”.
A number of other notable names appear in the cast, such as Tammy Blanchard (Into the Woods), Matthew Morrison (Glee), Evan Hall (Orange Is the New Black), Mike Edward (M3GAN 2.0) and Paloma Garcia-Lee (West Side Story).
Director Sam McConnell stated in an interview, “Test is a film about finding the strength to be your true self and recognizing your own worth — themes that resonate deeply with me and make this story especially meaningful.”
He continued, saying, “Sharing the film with audiences at festivals around the world has been the most rewarding experience of my career, and I’m thrilled to partner with Dark Star Pictures, whose belief in Test and commitment to a robust theatrical release will allow even more audiences to discover the film as we intended — on the big screen.”
While TEST has so far only been shown at a number of screenings, including at Provincetown Film Festival, CA Film Festival, and the previously mentioned SXSW Film Festival, Dark Star Pictures has picked up the movie for United States and Canadian distribution.
Dark Star Pictures is reportedly planning a 2027 theatrical release for TEST, but until then, the trailer shows just enough to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
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