Onslaught Review: A Relentless 80s-Style Action Thriller
Adam Wingard's Onslaught is a fast-paced action film following a veteran sniper, played by Adria Arjona, who defends a trailer park from three super-soldier assassins. The movie blends gruesome violence, witty dialogue, and anti-government themes, drawing comparisons to classic midnight movies. It releases in theaters on September 4.
The film runs a tight 92 minutes and is set in Moriarty, New Mexico, the same fictional town featured in Wingard's 2014 thriller The Guest, creating a shared universe with his earlier work. Arjona's character, Celeste, is a veteran sniper dealing with PTSD while trying to raise a child in a trailer park community. The three antagonists—The Crybaby, The Cockroach, and The Butcher—are super-soldiers with painted faces and glowing eyes, visually reminiscent of video game enemies. Dan Stevens plays Dr. Kammler, a third-generation Nazi scientist working on eugenics experiments alongside his wife, Frau Kammler, portrayed by Rebecca Hall.
This film could resonate strongly with audiences nostalgic for practical-effects-driven action cinema from the 1980s, offering a counterpoint to today's CGI-heavy blockbusters. Its anti-government and pro-veteran themes may spark conversation about how entertainment reflects contemporary distrust of institutions, though the exaggerated, campy tone likely keeps it firmly in escapist territory. The theatrical September release positions it as counter-programming to awards season fare, potentially appealing to genre fans seeking unapologetic, grindhouse-style entertainment.