Arcadian is all about Nic Cage and the end of the world. Sort of. An apocalyptic film that has creatures tunneling up from the depths of the earth to wreak havoc on humanity. The film has gotten a pretty short shrift. IMDb has given it a 5.5 out of 10. Rotten Tomatoes? 78%. However, the audience score for the fim is only a 55%.
The Story
Paul, Joseph and Thomas live a live a spartan life after the apocalypse. Creature who live under the earth are killing off human survivors. Joseph returns daily to the Rose farm. Thomas invents new things. He could be a genius.
Joseph visits the Rose farm to see Charlotte. There is an attraction. This starts an attack from the earth dwelling creatures. Both farms are in danger
The Rose farm is head and shoulders above Cage’s character’s bleak existence.
It works
This slow paced horror works well. Shot in Ireland, and it looks it, Arcadian may move at a snail’s pace but it works. The story deftly avoids the question of where these subterranean creatures come from. They could even be aliens.
The question of the Arcadian genesis is ambiguous and no one seems to care. It actually takes nothing from the tale itself.
Cage’s clan, for all their spartan lifestyle, have the advantage. Joseph is a genius and he has been inventing useful items. He lacks, however, the savviness of his dad Paul. Between the two of them, life gets that bit better.
The two farms being like night and day helps to move this story along. There is a touch of Romeo and Juliet here. No anonymity exists until “Juliet” the love interest wants to take things that little bit further.
The Main Cast
Nicolas Cage is Paul. There is not a lot to be said about this casting. Cage plays, well, Cage.
Maxwell Jenkins is Thomas. The brother besotted with Charlotte: Sadie Soverall. The two lovebirds work well together. Charlotte being more of an aggressor than young Thomas. Later, when Mr Rose (Joe Dixon) finds the two of them together, we learn that Charlotte has done this before.
Jaeden Martell is Joseph, the clever clogs in the family. He is the one who gives us the puzzle of where the creatures came from and when.
All the players do well here. Samantha Coughlan as Mrs Rose gets honourable mention here. They may not have given the farmer’s wife much to say, but she knocked this one out of the park.
FX
The CG effects are okay. Nothing to write home about sure, but, they do not over impress either.
Still.
The bit where they start “super chomping” the air? *Like evil energiser bunnies on steroids.*
Pretty darn good. Gooseflesh will march up and down them arms, baby.
Blood and guts aside, the practical and not so practical FX do not take away from Arcadian at all.
The Verdict
Director Benjamin Brewer puts this together nicely. Writer Mike Nilon, who apparently wrote this one for Cage gives us a story that lacks in some areas. He also managed to bring something to the table here: Cage.
Arcadian earns a hardy 3.5 stars out of 5. The film is, overall, “reminiscent.” It feels like a lot of other Post Apocalyptic films. *Of which there are legion.”
It still held its own with a solid 3.5 stars out of 5. Sure, there were things that we all knew were going to happen. Overall though it was a good one to watch. It is streaming on AMC+ and you can rent it on Prime.
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