Arcadian
Directed by Benjamin BrewerIn the near future, on a decimated Earth, Paul and his twin sons face terror at night when ferocious creatures awaken. When Paul is nearly killed, the boys come up with a plan for survival, using everything their father taught them to keep him alive.
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Arcadian Ratings & Reviews
- ScottDecember 15, 2024I didn’t have expectations either way and it was a pleasant surprise. A grounded performance from Cage and some solid performances all around. Cinematography was good other than the budget showing on the way some stuff wasn’t stabilized.
- Daniel NAGYJuly 26, 2025Boring story, physically too dark scenes, annoying stupid children.
- Kevin WardJuly 2, 2025Went into this completely blind with the exception that someone had said the trailer looked like an A Quiet Place clone (derogatory in their eyes, a compliment in mine). I think most will come away thinking that it is partially that, with a healthy dose of I Am Legend mixed in. I’m trying not to divulge too much information because the thrill of not knowing what to expect is what I loved so much about it. Are there werewolves, Monsters, bugs, aliens, zombies, irradiated humanoids, wild animals or perhaps nothing at all, terrifying this family on a farm? And that tension ratchets up to 11 as the sun starts to go down and we get the sense that danger is on the horizon. I honestly don’t want to say anymore except that I had a really awesome time with my two oldest kids in an otherwise empty theater.
- B1gfoott7d agoThe monsters were truly weird in this one, and Nic Cage wasn't weird at all. I enjoyed it but the end was a little slow. I did like how they never really knew why they appeared or why the world fell apart.
- Dominic Selvaggio7d agoThe worst Nicholas Cage experience I've ever seen and I've seen too many Nicholas Cage movies for one single human lifetime. This was by far the worst movie of 2024 by far, it isn't even like other Cage movies where they are "bad" good, it's just actually bad.
- Mihai MironOctober 30, 2025A decent movie 🎥
- jackmeatOctober 29, 2025My quick rating - 5.8/10. I don’t care what anyone says, you simply can’t go wrong with Nicolas Cage. Whether he’s going full-tilt crazy or quietly simmering under the surface, Cage always commits, and his latest flick Arcadian is no exception. Set in a dystopian future where Earth’s remaining inhabitants face relentless terror after nightfall, the film blends post-apocalyptic survival drama with creature-feature horror, and Cage gives it more emotional weight than it probably deserves. Cage stars as Paul, a devoted father raising his two sons, Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins) and Joseph (Jaeden Martell), in a fortified farmhouse. By day, the world seems eerily calm—almost too calm—but once the sun sets, the family is under siege by monstrous, unseen terrors that roam the night. The rule is simple: be home before sundown. But when Thomas breaks that rule, Paul is forced to risk everything to bring him back before the horrors descend. What follows is a tense, grim, and occasionally touching story of family survival in a world gone dark, literally and figuratively. One of the standout elements to me is the creature design. The monsters—sort of a twisted blend between the “lickers” from Resident Evil and bird-faced nightmares—are unnerving to watch. The way their heads violently twitch before they attack adds a jarring, insect-like menace that genuinely gets under your skin. The film uses them sparingly, which works in its favor, keeping the fear of the unknown alive until all hell breaks loose. Cage, unsurprisingly, anchors the whole experience. Even when the dialogue gets clunky or the pacing starts to wander (and it does, especially in the middle act), he sells every scene with conviction. His portrayal of Paul carries the right mix of exhausted ferocity and paternal love, making the character feel real even amid the chaos. You could give this man a script about fighting toaster ovens, and he’d still find a way to make it compelling. That said, Arcadian doesn’t completely escape the pitfalls of its genre. The plot hits familiar beats, the pacing slows to a crawl at times, and a few lines of dialogue feel pulled from the “end of the world” cliché handbook. Yet, despite these flaws, the film manages to hold your attention with its moody atmosphere, solid creature effects, and Cage’s ever-watchable performance. It’s not groundbreaking, but it delivers enough tension and monster mayhem to satisfy fans of survival horror. In the end, Arcadian is exactly what you’d expect from a Nicolas Cage apocalyptic thriller—flawed but engaging, weirdly heartfelt, and just unsettling enough to make you think twice about venturing out after dark.
- quarillMay 22, 2025Absolutely the worst movie in 2024. I just can't get my head around, that how can Nic Cage - being one of the most talented actors out there - say yes to something like this.
- BradenJanuary 27, 2025Cage tries his mightiest to keep this post-apocalyptic young-adult story afloat. Questionable camera work and a stifled story mar a tight 90 creature feature with one of the most interesting monster designs I’ve ever seen.
- Desmond DaleJanuary 24, 2025The monster design is the most interesting thing about the film by far. I'm a huge fan of Nicholas Cage but his role in this film seems quite subdued and contained. I would posit that he was cast solely for name recognition. Moreover, if you take away the gory bits Arcadian has all of the contrivances of the typical YA affair.
- JkrilinDecember 29, 2024Despite the potential of the premise and a promising cast, this horror thriller falls short in almost every aspect. The plot, while intriguing at first, unfolds in a predictable manner and lacks emotional impact. Nicolas Cage is relegated to the background, and while Jaeden Martell and Maxwell Jenkins have some good moments, their performances fail to save a weak script. The creatures don't generate any real fear or tension, and the slow pace makes the film feel longer than it actually is. If you're a fan of the genre or the cast, you might give it a chance, but don't expect too much. Do you think the cast can save a movie with a weak plot?
