Hey there, film lovers! Brace yourselves for an electrifying ride with Adam Wingard’s latest flick, "Onslaught". Moving away from the usual, Wingard hones his talent for creating visual feasts with memorable details that hint tantalizingly at a universe of stories yet to be told. Right off the bat, we witness the fascinating display of jack-o’-lanterns exploding in a remote canyon, followed by an eccentric knife-wielding act involving gnarled carrots. Topping it off, we find the surely unforgettable sight of an old Nazi scientist (played by Dan Stevens) exerting effort to worship a woman's stilettoed foot.

These appetizing morsels, feel like an early film buff’s Christmas present, setting the stage for a buffet of ultra-violence that is about to ensue. But while these striking, anticipatory elements tease a far more enjoyable feast than they deliver, "Onslaught" remains a satisfactorily exciting watch.

Our introduction to Celeste (Adria Arjona) discovers her as a trigger-happy, ex-army sharpshooter wrestling with a PTSD strained existence, in the peaceful desert community of Windy Oasis. Here she shares her space with comforting oddballs including a warmhearted Vietnam war vet (Reginald VelJohnson’s Josiah) and a disgruntled drunk cop (Eric Wareheim’s Kovacks).

This peaceful existence takes an alarming turn when the region is unsettled by an escapee trio of super-soldiers likened to human heat-seeking missiles from a nearby top-secret military prison. As this threat inches closer, Celeste must summon the warrior within, to shield not only herself and her daughter Daisy (Blake Kennedy), but also her tranquil haven.

If you're expecting a home invasion thriller, Wingard’s got you covered. With the super-soldiers, immune to bullets, oblivious to pain, and devoid of any moral compass, the body counts rise rapidly alongside demolished walls and windows. The movie's technical artistry shines fully in the action scenes, from the raw soundscapes filled with assault rifle parades to the detailed depiction of bone crushing glass, thanks to Nick Interlandi and Oren Soffer's expert work respectively.

But the movie’s second half feels like missed potential, as if the delight found in playing with new shiny cinematic toys has outshone the plot development. Characters like Stevens’ pervy Kammler and Rebecca Hall’s underutilized dominating wife character feel like unsolved puzzles. Revealing socio-political themes sporadically appear, including allusions to the US's historically gruesome military actions, but these too are left in the dust.

Bring on the hallelujahs though, for the good guys who get their dues. In the midst of all the chaos, Celeste, portrayed skillfully by Arjona, emerges as both a badass action-hero, and a warm, charming human providing much needed warmth in between heated battles. Her onscreen camaraderie with fellow vet Josiah, feels truly special.

While more could have been explored on the villain front, "Onslaught" does an admirable job creating a universe worth fighting for, rooting you all the way for our heroes' triumphant stand against the over-the-top adversaries. Hop in folks, this action-packed madness is worth the ride!