Directed by Adam Wingard and said to be in the vein of his cult classics The Guest and You’re Next, the “gonzo action horror thriller” Onslaught is set to reach theatres on September 4th. The trailer (you can watch it in the embed above) dropped online a few weeks ago and left a lot of viewers wondering, is this some kind of stealth sequel to The Guest? Well, there are definitely some similar ideas at play, but cast member Rebecca Hall (who previously worked with Wingard on Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire) doesn’t think the two films are actually connected.
Who stars in Onslaught?
Adria Arjona (Hit Man); Dan Stevens, who worked with Wingard on The Guest and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire; Drew Starkey (Outer Banks), Michael Biehn (The Terminator), Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard), comedian Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric), and the aforementioned Rebecca Hall star in the film alongside UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex “Poatan” Pereira.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pereira will be able to “bring his set of skills to the role — including anaconda chokes and roundhouse kicks.” They also note that “Pereira is a former kickboxer and Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is one of a handful of fighters to become a champion in two different weight divisions.”
What is Onslaught about?
Speaking of skillsets, sources say that Arjona’s character is “a mother living in a trailer who falls back on a particular set of skills in order to protect her loved ones after she runs afoul of a threat that has escaped a secret military base.”
Here’s the official synopsis: When a rogue squad of genetically engineered super soldiers break loose in the desert, a badass Army sniper must unleash hell to protect her young daughter.
Stevens plays a German scientist who is working on the experiments that escape, and Hall’s character works with him. Biehn plays the leader of an elite group of mercenaries who try to reign in the threat. VelJohnson’s character is a member of the mother’s trailer park community, and so is Wareheim’s character.
The screenplay for Onslaught was written by Simon Barrett, who collaborated with Wingard on The Guest, You’re Next, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, A Horrible Way to Die, and Blair Witch, among other projects.
Lyrical Media and A24 are co-financing Onslaught and A24 will handle worldwide distribution. Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett are producing the film under their Ryder Picture Company banner, alongside A24. Alexander Black is producing for Lyrical Media. Wingard and his manager Jeremy Platt are also producing, through their new shingle Breakaway Civilization, along with Barrett. Lyrical’s Jon Rosenberg and Natalie Sellers serve as executive producers.
What did Rebecca Hall say about Onslaught?
The Hollywood Reporter‘s Brian Davids asked Hall if Onslaught is a stealth sequel to The Guest and she answered, “I say nothing. It’s not really, I don’t think. It has elements.”
When Davids pointed out that Dan Stevens playing a German scientist in the film does throw a wrench into the idea of this being a sequel to The Guest, Hall said, “No comment.” So, read into that what you will.
Are you looking forward to Onslaught, even if it’s not connected to The Guest? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
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