Julius Avery’s Overlord wastes no time, throwing us directly into a chaotic parachute drop on the eve of D-Day. A small squad of soldiers, tasked with destroying a Nazi radio tower, survives a brutal jump and regroups behind enemy lines. We are quickly introduced to the core duo: the kind-hearted Private Boyce (Jovan Adepo) and the tough, no-nonsense Corporal Ford (Wyatt Russell).
When the team finds an unlikely ally in a young villager named Chloe, their mission takes a terrifying turn. Boyce stumbles upon a secret Nazi lab, where he uncovers the sinister truth: the enemy is conducting gruesome experiments to create an army of unstoppable, immortal soldiers. What follows is an intense and visceral battle for survival that masterfully blends gritty war action with creature-feature horror.
Beyond the Action
The special effects are absolutely outstanding. The body horror, violence, and grotesque mutants are so seamless and realistic that they’ll make you squirm. Unlike typical zombies, these undead soldiers are genuinely unique and terrifying, though the film does seem to pay a clever homage to Return of the Living Dead in one scene.
The casting is perfect, with each actor delivering a compelling performance that pulls you in. Jovan Adepo is remarkable as Boyce, bringing a raw humanity to the role without uttering a single word at times. You feel his emotional journey from a terrified soldier to a hardened hero. Wyatt Russell shines as the cold, mission-focused Ford, delivering a completely different performance from his other roles and providing a powerful sense of redemption by the film’s end. Mathilde Ollivier is an absolute standout as Chloe, a character who is both feminine and fiercely determined to fight back. Her portrayal shows the kind of strong female character the horror genre desperately needs more of. And of course, Pilou Asbæk as the villainous Wafner is so convincingly despicable that you’ll find yourself yelling at the screen in pure disgust.
Overlord, produced by JJ Abrams, is the total package. It’s horrific, action-packed, and emotionally engaging. To director Julius Avery, the writers, producers, cast, and crew, I say bravo. They created a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat and emotionally involved from start to finish. It’s one of the best horror films of its time. If you somehow missed it, do yourself a favor and watch it now. It is a masterpiece.
