The action horror thriller Onslaught, directed by Adam Wingard and produced by A24, will open in Ukrainian cinemas on September 3, 2026, distributor Green Light Films and Ukrainian news agency UNIAN announced.
The film follows Celeste, a former army sniper who leaves her military past behind to build a quiet life with her young daughter in a desert trailer park. Her peaceful existence is shattered when a team of genetically modified super-soldiers escapes from a secret military facility, forcing her to draw on her combat background to protect her child from a deadly threat.
For director Adam Wingard, Onslaught represents a return to his roots in lower-budget, eccentric genre filmmaking. After directing massive studio blockbusters such as Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Wingard sought to recapture the creative freedom that defined his earlier projects.
Wingard previously directed cult thrillers and horror films including You're Next, The Guest, Blair Witch, and Death Note. Although he missed the creative autonomy of those early works, Wingard noted that his time working on major Hollywood franchises allowed him to command larger budgets and master complex world-building techniques that enhanced his directional approach.
American actress Adria Arjona, who is of Guatemalan and Puerto Rican heritage, stars in the lead role of Celeste.
Arjona breaks away from traditional screen tropes such as the femme fatale, hero's companion, or damsel in distress. She has previously appeared in feature films including Triple Frontier, Morbius, Hit Man, and Blink Twice, as well as the television series Narcos and True Detective.
In Onslaught, Arjona portrays a resolute and tough mother who is prepared to do whatever it takes to save her daughter, operating without needing a male counterpart to achieve victory.
UFC champion casting and ensemble stars
The casting of Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira, a former two-division UFC champion, marks one of the movie's most unusual choices. Wingard specifically looked for a performer whose real-life physical presence and conditioning could genuinely intimidate moviegoers.
The film marks Pereira's acting debut in cinema. His lack of English fluency did not present a problem during filming, as his character is a silent and methodical killing machine with almost no spoken dialogue.
The supporting cast includes Dan Stevens, who reunited with Wingard after appearing in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and whose screen credits include Beauty and the Beast, I'm Your Man, Abigail, The Ritual, Downton Abbey, and Legion. Veteran actor Michael Biehn, famed for 1980s classics such as The Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss, also stars in the thriller.
The ensemble is rounded out by Drew Starkey, known for Outer Banks, The Devil All the Time, Hellraiser, Queer, and Love, alongside Rebecca Hall, whose work includes The Prestige, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Iron Man 3, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Tales from the Loop.
Child actor search and subgenre fusion
Despite the violent action and eccentric genre elements, the emotional center of the story focuses on the bond between Celeste and her seven-year-old daughter, Daisy. Wingard's casting team reviewed hundreds of auditions before narrowing the selection to approximately 30 finalists.
Wingard emphasized finding a child actor who appeared completely natural without acting overly mature, ensuring that the mother-daughter connection remained believable amid the surrounding danger. Young actress Blake Kennedy secured the role, marking her feature film debut following small television appearances in On Call and True Lies.
Studio A24 describes Onslaught as a fast-paced, quirky, and ruthless action thriller that combines modern military paranoia with the spirit of 1980s B-movie horror. The movie blends intense action sequences, conspiracy thriller themes, and midnight movie craziness while referencing classic films such as Halloween, The Mist, and The Terminator.
Wingard explained that he and long-time screenwriter Simon Barrett prefer mixing subgenres in their projects. The duo has built a multi-year creative partnership spanning low-budget horror features to major studio monster movies.
