When the “perfect weapon” turns out to be not so perfect after all

To be honest, I’m still a little shocked that A24 could release such a forgettable film. Considering the concept and the team behind it, I expected much more.

The story follows former military sniper Celeste, who lives with her daughter in a remote trailer park when genetically modified super-soldiers escape. It sounds like the perfect setup for a bloody action-horror in the spirit of old-school B-movies.

➕ What I liked:

• Adria Arjona — definitely one of the film’s biggest strengths. She is convincing as an action heroine and easily carries most of the movie.

• The atmosphere. The desert locations, trailer park setting, retro aesthetic, nods to John Carpenter, and overall ’80s exploitation vibe create the right mood. The film genuinely looks stylish.

• The music. The electronic soundtrack keeps the tension going and gives the movie an old-school genre feel.

• Some of the characters and performances. Dan Stevens and Drew Starkey clearly have fun with their eccentric roles, while the appearances of familiar faces from classic action movies add some extra charm.

• The runtime. At just 92 minutes, the film never has enough time to become completely exhausting, even when the script starts to lose momentum.

➖ What I didn’t like:

• There’s so much stupidity that it’s honestly wild. The characters make decisions that leave you wondering, “Are you seriously doing this right now?” Much of the story’s logic is sacrificed for genre conventions.

• The action is weaker than the concept promises. For a movie about genetically modified super-soldiers and a former sniper, there simply aren’t enough action sequences, and some of them are far from impressive.

• The “perfect killing machines” aren’t quite as perfect as advertised. They look threatening and the concept is intriguing, but the tension often disappears once they actually face their opponents.

• The genre mash-up doesn’t always work. The film tries to combine slasher, satire, sci-fi, and B-movie action. It’s an interesting idea, but the constantly shifting tone prevents these elements from coming together into a cohesive whole.

• The satire could have been sharper. The film touches on military experiments, veterans, and the machinery of the state, but these ideas mostly remain in the background rather than becoming a meaningful part of the story.

The film isn’t boring and has a few genuinely fun moments, but by the end, I was left thinking: this could have been so much crazier, bloodier, and more spectacular.