Onslaught, Adam Wingard's return to the world of smaller budgets and ultra violence, after helming two Godzilla x King Kong movies, supposedly takes place in the same "universe" as his previous films The Guest, and You're Next. So, basically a universe where military and ex-military can invade homes and violently murder civilians? Which is to say, the U.S.?
Fine. Unstoppable, conscience-free super soldiers are not yet a thing (that we know of!), but heavily armed and masked government "law enforcement" is not as shocking a sight as it may have been even three years ago. And perhaps that's why Onslaught isn't quite as fun as it's intended to be.
Adris Adjora stars as Celeste, a veteran with obvious PTSD who manages a trailer park in a small town in New Mexico. She's also a single mom dealing with the unexpected arrival of her daughter, Daisy (Blake Kennedy) on a weekend that's not "hers."
And what's worse than dealing with a child when you're not prepared to? Dealing with a child while also having to protect that child from three murderous super soldiers who have escaped from a secret government lab run by a pale German scientist (Dan Stevens) who is almost definitely descended from actual WWII-era Nazis.
Wingard isn't subtle when it comes to his 80's movie influences. From using John Carpenter's favorite font in the opening credits, to the synth-heavy score, to the figures with glowing eyes, framed ominously in the foggy distance. Center the film on a tough broad protecting a kid from relentless killers, and there's your two James Cameron influences.
These tributes to the genre greats, and to the grindhouse era of filmmaking in general, are enjoyable, and Adjora's Celeste is fierce an refreshingly complicated heroine. But that's mixed in with some modern vibes that made me a little uneasy. I'll admit I was glad when the super soldiers eventually have to resort to weapons other than guns, as watching mass shootings in a brightly lit convenience store just feels a little too real to be entertaining these days.
And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think the movie is too short! The onslaught in Onslaught is relentless and filled with some intriguing side characters. But the end of that onslaught felt a tad anti-climactic - unless we are given the sequel it very obviously sets up.
