Adam Wingard's "Onslaught" arrives in theaters September 4, offering a "midnight movie" experience filled with intense action, dark humor, and a distinct '80s action lineage. The film centers on a trio of militarized super-soldiers, escaped from a clandestine Nazi experimentation program, who descend upon a New Mexico trailer park community.
Celeste, a veteran sniper grappling with PTSD and motherhood, emerges as the film's reluctant hero. Portrayed by Adria Arjona, Celeste embodies a no-nonsense attitude and a knack for directing her anger constructively, making her a compelling protagonist as she defends her home against the relentless attackers. Arjona's performance is noted for its seamless transition into the action hero role, drawing comparisons to iconic characters like Sarah Connor.
The antagonists, a trio of imposing super-soldiers with painted faces and glowing eyes, evoke the feel of video game bosses, particularly those from "Call of Duty's" Zombies mode. While they possess codenames like The Crybaby, The Cockroach, and The Butcher, the film largely treats them as a unified force. This lack of individual differentiation among the soldiers is less detrimental given the focused setting of the trailer park, allowing director Wingard to stage tense cat-and-mouse sequences.
A Cast of Eccentrics and Veterans
The film's narrative is further enriched by the presence of Dr. Kammler, a third-generation Nazi scientist with a flair for the dramatic, played by Dan Stevens. Kammler, alongside his wife Frau Kammler (Rebecca Hall), oversees the super-soldier experiments. Stevens leans into a campy performance, while Hall provides a more restrained gravity to her enigmatic character. Their dynamic, along with that of Cyrus (Drew Starkey), who monitors the soldiers' rampage, adds layers of intrigue and tonal balance.
Supporting characters from the trailer park community also contribute to the film's down-home charm. Josiah, a Vietnam War veteran played by Reginald VelJohnson, serves as a mentor figure to Celeste, channeling his "Die Hard" legacy with sharp one-liners and sharpshooting skills. Eric Wareheim appears as Kovacks, a bumbling local cop whose comedic ineptitude provides a welcome counterpoint to the intense action.
Young actor Blake Kennedy as Daisy, Celeste's daughter, brings a naturalistic and precocious performance that grounds the escalating chaos and amplifies the stakes whenever her character is in peril.
Visuals and Sound Design
Visually, "Onslaught" is characterized by Oren Soffer's cinematography, which captures the stark beauty of the New Mexico desert. The practical effects and a straightforward, classical approach to staging action sequences reinforce the film's '80s action influences. The score, composed by Matt Pusti, features a synth-heavy sound reminiscent of John Carpenter's work on "Escape from New York" and "Prince of Darkness," providing a pulsing energy that underscores the film's deliberate stylistic choices.
"Onslaught" reportedly runs for over 92 minutes and was filmed in the Moriarty, New Mexico area. The film's thematic explorations touch upon the government's relationship with global warfare, adding a layer of social commentary to its otherwise visceral premise.