Two things that make any movie better when added to the mix are monsters and Nic Cage. With Arcadian we get both. The sixty-year-old actor has gone through a significant career shift in his later years. He certainly hasn’t slowed down, starring in five films released last year and popping-in for a quick (and confusing) cameo for DC’s The Flash. Beginning around 2013’s Joe and continuing with films like Mandy, Pig and Dream Scenario he’s gravitated towards smaller films with a focus on character exploration amidst extraordinary circumstances. 2024 continues that trend with a successful spin on the post-apocalyptic genre.
Arcadian Plot
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Paul (Nicolas Cage) struggles to raise his two teenaged sons, Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins) and Joseph (Jaeden Martell), while battling deadly creatures that emerge each night. Society has collapsed and the few survivors fend for themselves, scavenging for food and boarding up their houses before dark.
The Critique
If the world has essentially ended and society as we knew it has crumbled, what are the stakes? What makes surviving in a lonely existence filled with paranoia and dread worth the constant battle? The answer is — of course — love and family. The desire to protect a loved-one — especially a child — will always out-weigh the natural instinct of self-preservation. Arcadian is filled heart-racing moments and one of the most unique creature-designs I’ve seen put to film; however, at the core of its story is the bond between a single-father and his teenaged boys.
Raising children to survive in a world dominated by monsters isn’t entirely different than raising them in the real-world. There is bickering and jealousy between siblings. There’s puberty and all of the complications that go with it. There are rules and consequences. Arcadian allows for these little moments to breathe within the story. We see Paul teaching Joseph to drive, and as the father of a teenager with a learners permit, I believe that to be more dangerous than any monster.
The creatures are difficult to describe, and I wouldn’t want to even if I could. The surprise at seeing them and desperately trying to comprehend what you’re looking at is a highlight of the film. They’re nocturnal and — often to the film’s detriment — the action primarily takes place at night and shrouded in darkness. It can be difficult to see at times, especially when the editing is fast and the camera is shaky. Don’t worry though, because they don’t remain hidden. The beasts possess not only unique appearances, but surprising talents unlike anything I’ve seen in recent memory.
In Conclusion
Arcadian tackles the apocalypse with a fresh perspective and creative creature-designs. It’s family focus helps the story to feel grounded in an unrealistic setting. The small cast delivers strong performances, with Jaeden Martell showing he has more to bring to the horror-genre since starring in 2017’s It.
7/10
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