A24’s “Onslaught” Puts Adria Arjona at the Center of a Desert Siege

Adria Arjona speaks on a phone in “Onslaught.”

A24’s “Onslaught” arrives in theaters with Adria Arjona in full action-hero mode. She plays Celeste, a former Army sniper whose attempt to build a quieter life in the desert is shattered when genetically engineered soldiers break loose and place her daughter directly in their path.

Director Adam Wingard treats the setup like a siege movie with horror pressure. The threat is physical, the location is isolated and Celeste’s military training becomes the line between her family and a squad designed to overpower ordinary people. The film’s official trailer keeps Arjona at the center, showing a character who has to make fast decisions before the danger reaches her home.

The cast gives the action a mix of current faces and genre veterans. Dan Stevens, Drew Starkey, Rebecca Hall and Eric Wareheim join Arjona, while Michael Biehn and Reginald VelJohnson bring decades of screen history to the supporting lineup. UFC heavyweight Alex Pereira appears as the towering soldier known as the Butcher.

Wingard co-wrote the film with longtime collaborator Simon Barrett. Their past work together includes “You’re Next” and “The Guest,” both built around contained spaces, sudden violence and characters who reveal more capability than the people around them expect. “Onslaught” scales those instincts into a broader desert confrontation.

The movie opened wide September 4 and runs 92 minutes. Early notices have been divided on the story’s depth, but even the less enthusiastic responses have focused on Arjona’s physical lead performance and the film’s commitment to practical-feeling impact, gore and forward momentum.

For viewers tracking the weekend’s new releases, PowerPage also covered the September 4 arrival of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s “By Any Means.” That film approaches historical crime; “Onslaught” offers the opposite lane—a compact, hard-edged genre escape built around survival.

The official A24 trailer is included below. “Onslaught” is now playing in theaters, with ticket availability varying by market.

Watch: “Onslaught” — Official Trailer (A24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L24CYVpQ-LI