'Test Pattern' Trailer: Society's Darkest Impulses Come To The Surface In This New Thriller

Society’s darkest impulses come to the surface in Kino Lorber’s newest release, “Test Pattern.” In the film, a couple experiences unimaginable trauma as they navigate a system built on negative constructs. It’s a story that continues to resonate as issues centering around racism, sexism, sexual assault, policing, and patriarchy remain at the forefront. Filmmaker Shatara Michelle Ford’s project is already receiving attention thanks to wins at both the BlackStar Film Festival and New Orleans Film Festival; the former seeing this psychological drama take the Lionsgate/STARZ Producer Award.

Ford is amassing an impressive list of accolades. The Arkansas born and St. Louis raised artist comes to the project after being a part of 2017’s Black List. While her script titled “Queen Elizabeth” drew attention, it was “Pattern” that finally put her behind the camera. In this directorial debut, Ford intends to show that everything that shapes our identity deserves persistent exploration. It is all a part of her dedication to featuring characters that might otherwise be shaped by stereotypical elements. The director credits her approach to the LA Rebellion, with aesthetics shaped by Neoclassical directors.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2020

Part psychological horror, part realist drama, “Test Pattern” unfolds against the backdrop of national discussions around inequitable health care and policing, the #MeToo movement, and race in America. The film follows an interracial couple whose rock-solid relationship is put to the test when Renesha, a Black woman played by Brittany S. Hall, is sexually assaulted. Her white boyfriend (Will Brill) insistently pursues a rape kit and is met with medical and administrative incompetence at every turn. The film analyzes the effects of the systemic factors and social conditioning women face when navigating sex and consent within the American patriarchy, along with exploring institutional racism from a Black female point of view.

Brittany S. Hall, Will Brill, Gail Bean, and Drew Fuller star in “Test Pattern.” The Kino Lorber film is scheduled for a February 19th release. Watch its final trailer below.