Adam Wingard Returns to His Roots as A24 Unleash First Trailer for Onslaught
After spending the better part of the last decade directing giant monsters, collapsing cities and blockbuster spectacles, Adam Wingard is finally heading back into familiar territory.
The first trailer for Onslaught has now been released, giving horror and action fans a taste of the filmmaker’s latest collaboration with longtime creative partner Simon Barrett. The upcoming action-thriller arrives in cinemas on September 4, 2026, courtesy of A24.
Watch the trailer below.
For many genre fans, the biggest selling point here is not the genetically engineered super soldiers or the explosive action. It is the fact that Wingard and Barrett are working together again.
The duo became one of horror’s most exciting partnerships during the 2010s, delivering a string of acclaimed genre films including A Horrible Way to Die, You’re Next, The Guest, and Blair Witch. Their work helped define a generation of modern independent horror, combining sharp writing, dark humour, brutal violence and memorable characters.
While Wingard’s career later shifted towards major studio productions, many fans have long hoped he would eventually return to the leaner, more personal filmmaking style that made him such a beloved figure within the horror community.
Judging by the Onslaught trailer, those wishes may have finally been answered.
The film stars Adria Arjona as a highly skilled Army sniper who finds herself facing an impossible mission when a rogue group of genetically engineered super soldiers escape into the desert. With her young daughter in danger, she is forced into a relentless battle for survival against enemies who appear almost unstoppable.
The official synopsis reads:
“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.”
The newly released footage wastes little time establishing its tone. There are massive explosions, heavily armed soldiers, hand-to-hand combat and enough gunfire to make an action movie fan grin from ear to ear. At the same time, there is a pulpy, slightly off-kilter energy running through the trailer that feels distinctly Wingard.
It immediately recalls films such as The Guest, where familiar action-thriller tropes were filtered through a uniquely stylish and slightly unhinged lens.
That comparison becomes even stronger when you look at the cast.
Dan Stevens, who delivered one of the great modern cult performances as David in The Guest, reunites with Wingard for Onslaught. Stevens has become one of the director’s most frequent collaborators in recent years, also appearing in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
His presence alone has already sparked speculation among fans that Onslaught could somehow exist within the same universe as The Guest.
There is currently no evidence to suggest that is actually the case, but it is easy to understand why audiences are making the connection. Both films feature mysterious military experimentation, heavily armed soldiers, intense action sequences and the kind of heightened reality that Wingard and Barrett excel at creating.
Whether connected or not, they certainly appear cut from the same cloth.
The supporting cast is equally impressive. Joining Arjona and Stevens are Rebecca Hall, whose genre credentials include The Night House and the recent Godzilla films, alongside legendary action star Michael Biehn, best known for Aliens, The Terminator and The Abyss.
Also appearing are Reginald VelJohnson, Eric Wareheim, Drew Starkey and former UFC champion Alex Pereira, bringing an intriguing mix of acting experience and physical presence to the project. For Wingard, Onslaught represents something of a homecoming.
The director first emerged as part of the so-called “mumblegore” movement before breaking through with You’re Next in 2011. That film remains one of the most celebrated horror movies of the decade, praised for its inventive kills, dark humour and unforgettable final girl.
He followed it with The Guest in 2014, a film that has only grown in reputation over the years. Blending action, horror, thriller and black comedy elements, the movie developed a passionate cult following and is frequently cited as one of the strongest genre releases of the 2010s.
After directing Blair Witch in 2016, Wingard transitioned into blockbuster filmmaking, taking the helm of Godzilla vs. Kong and later Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, both of which proved hugely successful at the global box office.
While those films showcased his ability to handle enormous productions, many fans missed the scrappy energy and genre experimentation of his earlier work. Onslaught looks determined to bring some of that back.
The trailer feels fast, aggressive and unapologetically fun. It embraces practical action, over-the-top violence and larger-than-life characters without losing sight of the personal stakes at its centre. Most importantly, it feels like a film made by a director having fun again.
A24 has built a reputation for supporting filmmakers with distinctive voices, and Onslaught appears to be giving Wingard the freedom to combine his blockbuster experience with the genre instincts that made him a fan favourite in the first place.
If the finished film delivers on the promise of its trailer, horror and action fans may have one of the year’s most entertaining rides on their hands.
Onslaught storms into cinemas on September 4, 2026.
