Onslaught (2026) Movie Review: Bloody Throwback

Onslaught is the cheesiest 70s action horror movie that somehow made its way to 2026, featuring a superb performance from Adria Arjona.

Barrett and Wingard have put together something that looks and feels like it’s from a different era but still has some modern advances. Onslaught can be best described as the twisted love child of First Blood (1972) and Halloween (1978). It centers on an Army Veteran named Celeste (Arjona) who, like Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo, is struggling with the trauma of war after returning home. She’s thrust back into action to protect her daughter, Daisy (Blake Kennedy) when three genetically engineered super soldiers arrive at her home intent on killing anything in their path. 

These soldiers were created to be the ultimate weapon by scientist Dr. Hans Kammler (Dan Stevens, of Cuckoo) who has financial backing from the government and conducts experiments at a decommissioned military facility. They’re mute, move tactically, and turn into Michael Myers on steroids once they escape the facility holding them. While this trio likely won’t wind up being as iconic as Myers, their reign of terror is certainly brutal. Adam Wingard and his crew utilize everything at their disposal to create some gnarly kills along with plenty of suspense. There’s tons of blood and a couple moments that made me gag in my seat. 

All of that probably sounds insane and don’t get me wrong, it is, but Barrett, Wingard, and this cast are able to make Onslaught work. Adria Arjona rules as Celeste and often captures the characters’ trauma beautifully without really saying a word. You can tell that war was very hard on Celeste, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care for or love her daughter despite the fact she’s isolated herself and has a hard time communicating with Daisy. Their dynamic is the beating heart of this film and even with little time, Arjona and Blake Kennedy are able to make it a believable one. 

There’s really no better way to show that than through Arjona’s transformation into one of the toughest characters of the year so far when danger arrives. Celeste falls back on her training to defend the one thing she loves most in the world, even if it’s not easy for her for a multitude of reasons. You’ll be left in awe of Adria Arjona as she shifts between being gentle one minute to this fierce, battle tested warrior.  

Alongside Arjona and Kennedy, audiences are treated to quite the surprise in Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard) as Josiah. When he showed up in the trailer, I was shocked because I hadn’t seen him in anything in years. He and Arjona mesh well and his character gets some of the funniest, if slightly corny, lines in the film. 

Speaking of corny, it feels like a great time to discuss just how ridiculous Onslaught can get outside of some lines from VelJohnson and the expected over the top kills. The introductory scene of Cyrus (Drew Starkey, of Queer), a fixer meant to clean up the government’s mess, feels like it’s just there for shock value. You could cut it and not lose much detail of who he is and what he’s about. In addition, there’s a bit of predictability to this story. If you think something is going to be important later, it likely is. What’s even weirder is that some elements are positioned as crucial, but never come back at all or are underutilized. 

I shouldn’t have left the theater thinking about how Dan Stevens should’ve also been given more to do as Dr. Hans Kammler. Even though he’s worked with Adam Wingard before, I honestly wonder why he said yes to doing this. At least he makes the most of what he’s given and will leave audiences talking about the bizarreness of his character in a good way. 

This is a very peculiar story, but it’s easy to have a good time with, so when Barrett and Wingard go too far, don’t do enough, or inject jokes that fall flat, it noticeably brings the fun you’re having to a halt. The pair balance action and horror so well over the course of the film, especially in the third act, which is an exhilarating bloodbath. Early on, you get bits of action and drama before things take a shift into horror that would be jarring if it didn’t seem natural based on the information that’s given to viewers beforehand.

Not to mention, Matt Pusti’s score, and the excellent sound design help set the necessary mood. Sometimes you get something quiet and eerie, you’ll also hear a synth heavy score, and deaths are punctuated by some very disgusting noises that make you feel like you’re right there. Cinematographer Oren Soffer also deserves some credit for that too given that he makes this world and everything that occurs in it look real. He makes fantastic use of natural light and various colors. Not only that, but he also gives this film a sort of grainy look which lends itself well to the old school vibes this narrative has. Whenever you begin to think the film is losing you, these technical aspects are a big part of what pulls you back in. 

Onslaught will surprise a lot of people with its grisly narrative that features cheesy dialogue, plenty of violence, and a compelling lead performance from Adria Arjona. It’s not going to be for everyone, but those that love it will probably rewatch it every October from now on.

Onslaught will be released in US theaters on September 4, 2026 in theaters and in UK cinemas on December 11, 2026.