Onslaught

Hinting at thoughtful science-fiction concepts and social relevance, Onslaught is more about the superfluous brutality than the muddled subtext.

This gritty and intense thriller from director Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong) is underpinned by a critique of America’s historical obsession with war, guns, and military might.

However, that’s essentially just window dressing for a genre exercise in vigilante revenge set amid a barren dystopian landscape, with a parent risking it all to protect their family.

In this case, Celeste (Adria Arjona) a former sniper now living in a desert trailer park, where her combative ex (Jacob Scipio) drops off their young daughter (Blake Kennedy) unannounced.

Not far away, a German scientist (Dan Stevens) and his controlling wife (Rebecca Hall) are working on a top-secret mission to create high-tech warriors to help the government’s population control efforts.

It’s not long before the super soldiers escape from their bunker ahead of schedule and begin wreaking havoc without regard for loyalty. Cleavers, chainsaws, and old-fashioned brute force are among their implements of choice.

Celeste and the youngster take shelter with neighbors while a mohawked bounty hunter (Drew Starkey) joins the fray.

The evocative visuals generate an ominous atmosphere for a film that becomes darker as it goes along. The screenplay by frequent Wingard collaborator Simon Barrett (The Guest) is a cautionary tale of government corruption and technology run amok in which the thematic ambitions ring hollow.

The countdown gimmick doesn’t do much to establish or sustain tension before it inevitably devolves into a relentless bloodbath in which the savage confrontations are showcased not because of their narrative importance, but for their gratuitously gory aesthetics.

Character development is lost in the shuffle, although the film is anchored by a ferocious and physically demanding portrayal from Arjona (Hit Man), playing a woman whose resilient defiance is rooted in real-life trauma and righteous indignation.

The other subplots aren’t as compelling. Still, beneath his horrific wig and oddball idiosyncrasies, Stevens’ chilling nonchalance becomes the face of callous bureaucracy.

As it funnels toward an obligatory final showdown, the film sprinkles enough humor to keep from turning heavy-handed. Because as Onslaught reasons, the future of humanity might be bleak, but at least it will look cool.

Rated R, 92 minutes.