While it is indeed somewhat refreshing to see Nicolas Cage in a role that requires absolutely none of his Nicolas Cageness, the latest post-A Quiet Place creature feature, Arcadian, could use a little bit of the life such a thing would bring it. While it is indeed a solid little thriller with fine performances throughout, it suffers from a script that often feels incomplete, and in some instances, silly.
Cage plays Paul, father to two teenaged boys, Joseph and Thomas (Jaeden Martell and Maxwell Jenkins, respectively). Many years ago a sort of apocalypse occurred, the event ostensibly behind Paul’s presumed widower status. The details of the apocalyptic event are scant, but one thing is for sure: when the sun goes down, you’d better be inside. Those who don’t find shelter will be killed by the mysterious creatures that now inhabit the world. There are other people around, but they are few and far between, and circumstances have everyone fending for themselves.
The family dynamic between our three protagonists is believable and well-performed. The two boys are competitive with one another, regularly at each other’s throats the way young boys so often are, while Paul works to be not just a protector to his kids, but a role model for them. You see, both boys were just infants when this mysterious species invaded the planet, so this terrifying world is all they know. It’s up to Paul to make sure his boys have the skills they need to survive. As such, he does grant them small freedoms, including allowing Thomas to help out at a neighboring farm. But when Thomas doesn’t come home one night, Paul must venture into the darkness to retrieve his son, triggering an all out attack by the bloodthirsty creatures of the night.
It’s an uneven film, and it struggles to mesh the familial drama with the horror elements. Individually, both modes work well enough, but put together it created the sense that the filmmakers had to kill a few darlings for time, and perhaps may have killed the wrong ones. Certain plot threads are teased and then abandoned, undercutting some tantalizing ideas. Many of the characters feel like their motivations have been gutted by an edit — they make baffling decisions that the film doesn’t seem to recognize as baffling, and they do so while rattling of dialogue that ranges from thoughtful and realistic to unintentionally comical. Even so, once peace is made with these foibles, the film remains exciting and moving in equal measure.
The creature design is fantastic. They’re not just scary to look at, but rendered in such a way that they feel tangible in contrast to so many fellow CGI beasties. The design goes beyond surface level scaries, suggesting a biology that makes these agile, sharp-toothed attacked feel like wild animals rather than supernatural monsters. Set against beautiful wilderness photography, the hordes of creatures feel right at home — it’s easy to see why they were able to thrive in such an environment. One can only wonder what the urban areas of Earth feel like post-invasion. Would these beasts thrive all the same? We’ll never know since the grid is down and our heroes don’t have the means to go very far.
Yet for all the horror and excitement, what resonates most about the film is the story of brotherhood contained within. It’s about two very different boys in largely untenable circumstances, who slowly come to understand that their differences, put together, create an incredible strength. Brought to life by these two young performers, it’s an uncommonly moving thread that elevates an otherwise by-the-numbers horror flick. For all the scary imagery, it’s the expressive faces of our young heroes that prove to be the best special effect of all.
Directed by Benjamin Brewer
Written by Mike Nilon
Starring Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, Sadie Soverall
Rated R, 92 minutes
