Test is a 2026 American sports drama film directed by Sam McConnell and written by Brock Yurich. Yurich stars alongside Matthew Morrison, Tammy Blanchard, and Paloma Garcia-Lee.
The film premiered at the SXSW London on June 3, 2026.
Premise A closeted small-town Ohio bodybuilder clashes with his devoutly religious mother as he navigates his gay identity and the dark world of performance-enhancing drugs under a renowned coach.
Cast Brock Yurich as Eddie Matthew Morrison as Pastor Gregg Tammy Blanchard as Joanne Mike Edward as Mike Paloma Garcia-Lee as Abby
Production In November 2025, it was revealed that Sam McConnell had directed a sports drama film written and starring Brock Yurich. Matthew Morrison, Tammy Blanchard, and Paloma Garcia-Lee rounded out the cast.
The development and conceptual foundations of Test were heavily driven by screenwriter and star Brock Yurich's personal background as a gay competitive bodybuilder. Yurich conceived the semi-autobiographical screenplay after a mentor advised him to "write what you know" during a period of career struggle in Hollywood. Yurich sought to explore the complex intersection of queerness and bodybuilding, and homoeroticism in sports. McConnell and Yurich utilized the narrative to critique contemporary societal expectations of manhood and toxic masculinity, positioning bodybuilding as an ultimate performance of gender.
The teaser trailer for the film was released in May 2026.
Release Test premiered at the SXSW London on June 3, 2026. It had its Asian premiere at the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival on September 5, 2026, and was shown at Deauville Film Festival in France on September 9. In Canada, Test premiered on September 12, 2026 at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.
Critical response David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised Test, writing: "McConnell’s direction and Yurich’s script might occasionally be earnest to a fault, but the movie’s emotional authenticity and depth of compassion make it an affecting character study." Brian Bromberger from Bay Area Reporter called it "an earnest, grim meditation on the sport of amateur bodybuilding". In the official write-up for the film on the Frameline's website, Brock Yurich's portrayal of a closeted amateur bodybuilder was called "endearing," "volcanic," and "star-making".
Accolades + Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result 2026 Deauville American Film Festival Awards Grand Prix Sam McConnell Canal + Prize FilmOut San Diego Awards Best First Narrative Feature Best Lead Performance Brock Yurich Best Supporting Performance Tammy Blanchard Frameline Awards Outstanding First Narrative Feature Sam McConnell Nòt Film Fest Awards Best Director Provincetown International Film Festival Awards Best Narrative Feature/Audience Award
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