The Thinning, a new movie set in a future world where population growth is controlled by a school-administered aptitude test, was released on DVD on January 17, 2017. The movie has been both praised and panned by critics, but many viewers seem to agree that it is an enjoyable, if not exactly groundbreaking, film.

The plot of The Thinning is relatively straightforward: in a future world where the global population has exploded and resources are running low, the government has instituted a program whereby only the fittest students are allowed to graduate from high school. Those who fail the test …