The Hollywood Reporter's review of "Onslaught" praises director Adam Wingard for a visually inventive return to original filmmaking after years working on established franchises, but concludes the action-thriller ultimately fails to live up to its striking opening. The film follows Celeste (Adria Arjona), a PTSD-stricken former Army sniper living in a remote desert trailer park, who must defend herself, her daughter and her neighbours when three unstoppable super-soldiers escape a nearby military bunker, plunging the story into home-invasion territory reminiscent of Wingard's earlier work such as "You're Next" and "The Guest".

The review highlights strong technical craftsmanship, including Nick Interlandi's sound design and Oren Soffer's cinematography, alongside committed performances from Arjona, Dan Stevens as a menacing Nazi scientist, and Rebecca Hall. However, the critic argues the second half squanders its promising setup, with supporting characters such as Drew Starkey's Cyrus given little meaningful purpose, and the film's hinted political themes around American militarism and historical atrocities left underdeveloped. The overall verdict is a "gloriously crafted if narratively undercooked" film that entertains without reaching the greatness it initially seems to promise.