Share and Follow
In 2018, moviegoers were in for a surprise with “Overlord,” a sci-fi war film produced by J.J. Abrams. Directed by Australian filmmaker Julius Avery, who would later gain fame for “The Pope’s Exorcist,” “Overlord” marked only his second feature film. This time, viewers can catch this hidden cinematic treasure on Prime Video, where it promises an extravagant, gory thrill ride that they might have missed on its initial release.
Paramount Pictures
The movie plunges into the heart of World War II, following a squadron tasked with a critical mission to dismantle a Nazi radio tower. However, their journey takes a terrifying turn when their plane is shot down, landing them in a town shrouded in sinister secrets. Instead of the usual Nazi foes, they face a chilling army of the undead, inspired by the notorious and grotesque experiments the Nazis reportedly undertook during the war. “Overlord” taps into these dark what-ifs, imagining a world where the enemy is not just human, but something far more terrifying.
Despite its thrilling premise, “Overlord” didn’t make waves at the box office, grossing only $41 million globally against a $38 million budget. This underperformance is unfortunate, given its 82% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting it’s a thrilling period horror that merits a second look.
Prior to its release, the film generated buzz due to J.J. Abrams’ involvement, with fans speculating it might be a stealth entry in his acclaimed “Cloverfield” series. The rumors were fueled by the unexpected transformation of “God Particle” into “The Cloverfield Paradox,” a Netflix sequel to “Cloverfield” and “10 Cloverfield Lane.” Given the narrative twists of “The Cloverfield Paradox,” which hinted at longstanding experimental endeavors, it seemed plausible that “Overlord” might expand this universe.
However, these fan theories were dispelled when J.J. Abrams clarified at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that “Overlord” was not part of the “Cloverfield” saga. Although he teased that a fourth “Cloverfield” installment was in development, as of now, it remains unseen. Nonetheless, “Overlord” stands as a unique and entertaining piece, worthy of discovery by new audiences.
Fans initially speculated Overlord was a Cloverfield movie
Paramount Pictures
Before it was released, the involvement of producer J.J. Abrams had fans speculating that “Overlord” might turn out to secretly be an entry in Abrams’ fan-favorite “Cloverfield” franchise. After all, in 2017, the writer behind “God Particle” learned that his movie had become “The Cloverfield Paradox,” a Netflix follow-up to the theatrical movies “Cloverfield” and “10 Cloverfield Lane.” At the end of “The Cloverfield Paradox,” fans learned that these experiments had apparently been going on for a long time, and it was only natural to wonder if Abrams’ secretive next project would expand the universe.
Unfortunately, the speculation was wrong: ahead of the release of “Overlord,” J.J. Abrams said at the Las Vegas film exhibition showcase CinemaCon that the film was not connected to the “Cloverfield” franchise, and while he did promise that a fourth “Cloverfield” movie was in the works, as of this writing it has yet to materialize.
There are no overt nods to the “Cloverfield” universe in “Overlord,” but it’s easy to see where they might have been grafted on to this story about monster creation. All we would have needed was a Slusho mention or a nod to the Tagruato Corporation — but director Julius Avery wasn’t interested in linking up with Abrams’ larger universe. He told Gizmodo that he didn’t mind the speculation, however, saying, “This is its own beast but it’s great that everyone was showing a lot of interest in it.”
Much of the cast later went on to greater fame
Paramount Pictures
Though we couldn’t have known it in 2018, “Overlord” is especially fun to look back on now because so many members of the cast have gone on to much greater levels of fame. Wyatt Russell played Corporal Lewis Ford, a highly efficient killer. “Back then, it was like, this guy was like a pharmacist from Wyoming before he went over there. Through experience he became that way,” Russell told ComingSoon.net. “You need that guy who was in a moral gray area to win wars.” In contrast to the “Overlord” villains his character fought, Russell later played a super-soldier, starring as John Walker in Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Thunderbolts*.”
PFC Boyce was portrayed by Jovan Adepo, who had already charmed critics in “Fences” when he starred in “Overlord.” He went on to be a regular on streaming television, including well-received roles in Netflix’s “3 Body Problem” and HBO Max’s “It: Welcome to Derry.”
“Stranger Things” fans will be delighted to notice that this was actually the feature film debut of Joseph Quinn, who broke out several years later as Eddie Munson. In addition to parts in hits like “A Quiet Place: Day One” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Quinn played a soldier again in Alex Garland’s “Warfare,” a 2025 war movie with a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score that also deserves a spot on your watchlist.
