Director Adam Wingard’s new action thriller, “Onslaught,” arriving in theaters Friday via A24, allows for a level of graphic violence he hadn’t experienced since his early indie films. Wingard expresses surprise at the studio’s willingness to allow intense scenes, such as a “truck stop massacre sequence,” without censorship. He describes the film as a culmination of his previous works, “You’re Next” and “The Guest,” and a return to creative control after working on the “Godzilla” franchise.
Wingard admits his only regret about “Onslaught” is not including “even more graphic violence,” noting the film already features disturbing imagery but avoids gratuitousness. He contrasts this freedom with his experience in the studio system, where he spent a decade working on “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” He felt ready to return to projects that truly represented his style as a filmmaker.
The director sees “Onslaught” as completing a loose trilogy with “You’re Next” and “The Guest,” all co-written with Simon Barrett. He notes that “You’re Next” is a siege movie, “The Guest” draws inspiration from films like “Terminator” and “Halloween,” and “Onslaught” encapsulates elements of both. Becoming a father during the development of “Onslaught” also influenced the story, adding a parenting throughline to the narrative.
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