Test Pattern. Noun.
Definition of test pattern, a fixed picture broadcast by television stations to assist viewers in adjusting their receivers.
Certified 93% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes
Part psychological horror, part realist drama, this exhilarating debut feature from Shatara Michelle Ford is set against the backdrop of national discussions around inequitable health care and policing, the #metoo movement, and race in America. Test Pattern follows an interracial couple whose relationship is put to the test after a Black woman is sexually assaulted and her white boyfriend drives her from hospital to hospital in search of a rape kit. Their story reveals the systemic injustices and social conditioning women face when navigating sex and consent within the American patriarchy. Winner of top prizes at the BlackStar and New Orleans Film Festivals, this gripping social thriller offers a unique exploration of institutional racism and sexism from a Black woman’s point of view. Content warning: This film includes a depiction of sexual assault.
The NYTimes
Common Sense Media
Written and directed by Ford, the filmmaker navigates this thorny experience with patience and attention to detail, and resulting in a moving slow-burning drama filled with unspoken—but not unseen—hurt.
Monica Castillo
rogerebert.com
