“Arcadian” is like “Aliens” set on an Irish farm with Nicolas Cage as the lead. It’s a solid creature feature that sidesteps common post-apocalyptic horror tropes and delivers on its premise. It taps into the trend of exploring human response to civilization collapse, similar to “The Walking Dead” and “The Last of Us.”
The story in “Arcadian” begins with Paul, played by Cage, fleeing the end of civilization amid sirens and explosions. He hides with his twin sons, Joseph and Thomas. Fifteen years later, they live together, but panic ensues when Thomas doesn’t return home from the nearby Rose Farm before sunset, as it’s dangerous to be out after dark.
Thomas is impulsive while Joseph is more thoughtful. They secure their house against a mysterious threat and experience a terrifying encounter at night. Thomas becomes distracted by Charlotte, leading to a dangerous situation. Their father goes out to rescue him, leading to even stranger events. The filmmakers deliver a thrilling scene involving Joseph, a door panel, and intense suspense.
The creatures in the movie are like a combination of various terrifying designs, including a mix of a primate and a xenomorph. They have a lot of hair and teeth, and their appearance constantly changes, making them truly horrifying. The film’s director, Brewer, effectively hides the creatures in quick shots, adding to the fear by not fully revealing them. The creatures are designed to be genuinely terrifying, unlike some recent mediocre creatures in other horror films.
Some early choices, particularly the use of shaky-cam and the focus on the younger actors, may not sit well with fans of Nicolas Cage, as he plays a more subdued role. The director’s approach to the early scenes, using shaky-cam, may not be necessary for this type of film. It’s important for Nicolas Cage fans to be aware that this is not a typical Cage-led movie like “Mandy.” Instead, the younger actors take the spotlight, and Cage plays a supporting role.
The movie focuses more on the terrifying creature design than on character development or world building. The overwhelming presence of the creatures takes precedence over explaining the world or developing the characters’ personalities.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Creature feature with elements of post-apocalyptic horror |
| Setting | Irish farm amidst a collapsed civilization |
| Lead Actor | Nicolas Cage portrays Paul, the father of twin sons |
| Plot | Paul and his sons navigate survival amid mysterious threats, particularly focusing on Thomas’ disappearance and subsequent dangers |
| Creature Design | Terrifying creatures resembling a mix of primates and xenomorphs, with constantly changing appearances to heighten fear |
| Filmmaking Style | Director employs quick shots and avoids full reveals of creatures to maintain suspense, although shaky-cam usage and focus on younger actors may deter Cage fans |
| Character Focus | Emphasis on the younger actors rather than Cage, who plays a more subdued, supporting role |
| Character Development | Limited, with more focus on creature design and suspenseful encounters |
| Overall Impact | Delivers on its premise of a solid creature feature while sidestepping common post-apocalyptic horror tropes, catering to fans of intense suspense |
