Review of “Onslaught”
Adam Wingard’s film Onslaught mixes modern paranoia with a nod to grindhouse aesthetics, delivering a lean B-movie thriller that doesn’t quite fulfill its retro promise. Although Wingard has spent a decade working on larger intellectual properties, like Godzilla vs. Kong and a Death Note adaptation, this project feels like a return to his low-budget roots.
The 92-minute film, co-written by Wingard and Simon Barrett, follows Celeste (Adria Arjona), a single mother and ex-Army sniper, as she defends her daughter from three programmed super-soldiers unleashed from a nearby military lab. The movie takes its time building towards a bloody climax, revealing more of its characters and setting than it might need.
The film features a cast including Dan Stevens as a cartoonishly evil scientist and Drew Starkey as Cyrus, a laid-back cleanup expert. While Wingard lingers on scenes, showcasing life at the Windy Oasis trailer park, the blend of teen slasher tropes and surprising violence is both enjoyable and frustrating.
With a runtime of 107 minutes and rated R for strong violence and sexual content, Onslaught exemplifies Wingard’s unique style, merging dark humor with societal critique. Although it may lack depth, Arjona’s performance brings a fierce intensity to the otherwise bizarre narrative.
Onslaught is set for theatrical release by A24. It’s entertaining but ultimately a slight entry in Wingard’s filmography, earning two stars out of four.
