Ticketworthy - Onslaught

The trailers for Onslaught would make the film seem like a one-note action thriller, showcasing fast-paced combat through explosivity and ruthlessness. That is not, in any way, all that this movie has to offer. Directed by Adam Wingard, best known for his direction of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) as well as its sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), clearly has demonstrated his ability to showcase over-the-top action well, so in this case, there is nothing to be disappointed about in that department. However, the action is only one of many wildly different thematic subjects presented This is my main issue with the story, due to the overstated messaging of political and societal issues, as well as its approach to familial conflict and even PTSD. The elaborate display of colourful and disturbing imagery portrays these themes of trauma and confidentiality as nothing more than small unfitting pieces in a much larger convoluted puzzle. It is because of the many attempts to utilize these themes that makes me wish this had focused purely on the action rather than trying to tackle an incredibly complex overarching message.

The film focuses on Celeste (Adria Arjona) a former army combatant now living in a rundown trailer park. For the duration of the film, Celeste is shown to be dealing with trauma from her military experience in the Middle East. Ironically, not too much of a distance away from this residency, the U.S. government is conducting a top-secret experiment, involving three incredibly skilled former members of the military. These men are turned into genetically engineered super soldiers, programmed to wreak havoc in a strategic and organized manner. However, this experiment goes wrong, resulting in the biologically gifted men to escape, furthering their goal of pure violence. The men arrive to the trailer park and begin an all-out war between Celeste, the neighbors, and the soldiers. All the while, Celeste is taking care of her elementary age daughter.

This movie is heavily flawed, not in what it lacks, but in the way it does not lack. Simply put, there is far too much going on. Rather than connecting all these diverse plot devices to execute a complex narrative, Onslaught decides to provide glimpses of abstractive elements, such as drug addiction, government conspiracies, and even erotic relationships. This is where this film fails, depicting numerous unrelated ideas, which leads to an overwhelming feeling of unresolve. The story is somewhat simple; a battle between specially experimented combatants and a fierce and protective mother. Although I wish I could say that is what this movie was focusing on, that is just not the case.

The themes of trauma feel as if they are only utilized when it helps the action, rather than being used to develop Celeste as a character, and I honestly cannot describe the intended takeaway from the messaging of political secrecy. Obviously, this film’s plot is meant to demonstrate a government experiment “gone wrong”, but again, it tries too hard to combine a multitude of moving and functioning parts that are, from beginning to end, unrelated. This is not to say that I did not enjoy when these brief and abstract moments were on-screen, but they simply do not have any sort of correlation to the plot and the dynamics of this film.

While the trailers almost exclusively showed the battle in the trailer park, this film utilizes most of its runtime to showcase its brutality throughout multiple different settings and environments. From a testing facility to the desolate desert, these men proceed to leave only death in their path. The scene in which the three soldiers escape is, in my opinion, the best showcase of every aspect and theme this film has to offer, with the display of calculated savagery and gripping action that instils an overwhelming feeling of dread whenever these men are shown. Using everything at their disposal, including explosives, firearms, blades, and their fists, this movie does not shy away from its ability to illustrate action in a no-nonsense and raw way. This is where the movie shines, with a formidable protagonist, using everything in her power to protect her people from the dominant forces of military excellence. The showcase of strategic barbarity, through mostly anxiety-inducing fight scenes, would keep any movie viewer fully engaged.

Overall, this film should not be written off entirely for its failed attempts to execute non-linear messaging, although those failures may be apparent. The action is by far the standout success of Onslaught, which should be expected from the title alone. For those who enjoy gruesome battles and combat, this film showcases these aspects remarkably well, but if you are one looking for a complex and thought-provoking narrative, I would sit this one out.