Adria Arjona Stars in a New Clip for Adam Wingard’s ‘Onslaught’

Adam Wingard has spent recent years directing blockbuster monster mashups, guiding audiences through kaiju-sized spectacles in the MonsterVerse. However, before ‘Godzilla’ and ‘Kong’ crossed paths under his direction, Wingard established his reputation with scrappier, edgier genre films, and this fall he’s making a return to that realm.

This return is titled ‘Onslaught,’ featuring an ensemble cast that signals something worth watching. The film is penned by Simon Barrett, based on a story by Wingard and Barrett, marking a reunion for the duo behind ‘You’re Next’ and ‘The Guest.’

A new clip offers fans a sneak peek at the film ahead of its release, showcasing a woman in a small convenience store just moments before chaos ensues. The film stars Adria Arjona, Alex Pereira, Drew Starkey, Rebecca Hall, Reginald VelJohnson, Michael Biehn, Eric Wareheim, and Dan Stevens, with its theatrical release set for September 4.

The plot centers around Arjona as a former Army sniper who is forced back into action. When a rogue squad of genetically engineered super soldiers escapes in the desert, her character must unleash hell to protect her young daughter. Arjona bluntly describes her mission: to stop a killing machine, she must become one herself, relying on her ruthless combat instincts to survive the ensuing chaos.

The connection to Wingard’s earlier work is evident. ‘Onslaught’ is set in the same town featured in Wingard’s 2014 cult classic ‘The Guest,’ and the director mentioned at Comic-Con this year that it could “technically” be seen as a sequel, though not a direct one. Dan Stevens, who starred in ‘The Guest’ as engineered super soldier David Collins, returns in a different role, this time as Dr. Kammler.

The film’s casting leans heavily into genre pedigree while also introducing some unconventional choices. Michael Biehn, known for ‘The Terminator,’ ‘Aliens,’ and ‘The Abyss,’ joins the cast alongside Reginald VelJohnson of ‘Die Hard’ fame. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira makes his acting debut as a character named The Butcher, bringing real combat experience to the role.

Rebecca Hall completes the cast as a two-time Wingard collaborator, having also appeared in his MonsterVerse film ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’ The film has received an R rating for strong bloody violence, some gore, sexual material and nudity, and language, aligning with the trailer’s already grisly reputation among horror fans online.

Promotion for ‘Onslaught’ has embraced that R-rated chaos at every turn. A24 recently released a photoshoot featuring Arjona wielding a chainsaw atop a monster truck alongside Wingard and the rest of the cast, with character posters spotlighting each principal player in a retro throwback style.

‘Onslaught’ is co-financed by A24 and Lyrical Media, with A24 managing worldwide distribution, fully backing Wingard’s return to smaller-scale, visceral filmmaking. With the September 4 release date fast approaching, fans of Wingard’s earlier, bloodier work are eager to see if this spiritual sequel lives up to the chaos its marketing has promised all summer.

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