Back in 2019, filmmaker Craig Zobel’s The Hunt made headlines when conservative pundits claimed that the film targeted right-wing politics. The film’s release was eventually pushed back six months due to concern over recent (at the time) mass shootings. Even though the conservative characters were, in fact, the heroes of the film, Republicans felt persecuted, even before anyone had even seen the movie.
A24’s new movie, Onslaught, may have a similar effect with conservatives. Although, this time, it may be the truth that hurts.
Onslaught is about a trio of super soldiers developed by an ex-pat German scientist named Dr. Hans Kammler (Dan Stevens from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire) for the U.S. government. During their final test/demonstration, the experimental behemoths escape from their controlled lab and wreak havoc on the general public. Their journey leads them to a trailer park where they have a showdown with an ex-military sniper named Celeste (True Detective’s Adria Arjona) and a rag-tag group of her acquaintances and accomplices.
Writer/Director Adam Wingard and his writing partner Simon Barrett have carved out a nice little niche for themselves making genre-bending horror films, and Onslaught continues that trend. It’s a seamless blend of horror and action in the same vein as previous Wingard/Barrett movies like The Guest and You’re Next. It actually feels like it may take place within the same cinematic universe as The Guest, as it is rife with government conspiracy and mysterious characters. It’s essentially a slasher movie where Jason Voorhees is an invincible and ruthless killer with military training. And there are three of him.
The super-soldiers are great villains, even though they’re a bit one-note (but that’s to be expected with the mystery surrounding their origin stories). Individually, they’re imposing figures, but together, they’re a crack team whose only collective thought is of eliminating their targets. This makes Onslaught a violent, brutal, and gory movie. But it also makes it a fun movie. The soldiers are like machines – their only objective is to eliminate their targets. When they run out of ammo, they find other ways to kill. The leader, nicknamed The Butcher, of course finds himself a cleaver to use, but there are also axes, knives, and even a chainsaw in play. You know, slasher movie stuff.
And speaking of slasher movie stuff, Celeste is a capable and relatable Final Girl. She’s got demons from her time as a military sniper, she reluctantly cares about her fellow trailer park denizens, and she’s got a daughter to protect as well as herself. She’s much more layered and multi-dimensional than the killers, and even more than the secondary hero, a government agent named Cyrus (Queer’s Drew Starkey). So, as damaged as she is (and she is quite damaged), the audience roots for her.
Onslaught has all the trappings that make a good slasher. The unstoppable psychopath(s), the formidable heroine, the cannon-fodder characters – they’re all there. And the military aspect and spot-on combat choreography give it that action movie vibe.
But this is not your grandfather’s slasher or action movie. In between all the senseless killing, Onslaught makes a statement. And that’s what may drive some of the political right crazy. Without spoiling too much, once the reveal of the purpose of these super soldiers is revealed, it’s clear that Wingard and Barrett have some strong opinions on current events. It’s subtle in the same way as Alex Garland’s Civil War in that it doesn’t take much to figure out what they’re saying, but it never hits you over the head with its message. On the surface, it’s just carnage for the camera. But peeling back the layers reveals something more.
Onslaught is not quite as clever as some of Wingard & Barrett’s other movies, but it isn’t trying to be. It’s a visceral slice of violence, and it does what it does well. There are very few surprises. It’s exactly the movie it needs to be, for better and worse.
Sadly, once Zobel’s The Hunt was finally released to theaters in March of 2020, COVID hit and it got buried again. Onslaught will not have that issue. Not only will it be released to theaters, but it will be released on time and with A24’s backing. And it will find its audience. What that audience decides to see in the film is up to them. Is it just a brainless bloodbath, or is it a sly social commentary? Or maybe, just maybe, it’s both.
GRADE: B-
Rated: R for strong bloody violence, some gore, sexual material/nudity, and language
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Release Date: September 4, 2026