Film Review – Arcadian (2024) [Video]

Immersive realism and stupendous creature design give this apocalyptic family drama an added bite.

Nicolas Cage plays Paul, a pragmatic survivalist striving to protect his twin teenage sons Joseph and Thomas. Society has crumbled and what remains cowers in fear from the frenzied snapping jaws of vicious nocturnal creatures.

Meticulous safety routines and diligent time management stave off extinction, however, the menace is evolving and teenage hormones are too. Thomas becomes romantically involved with a girl from a neighbouring settlement proving the catalyst for some deadly risk-taking and the revelation that the nasty night stalkers have been hatching a devious plan.

Arcadian certainly lives up to its name in terms of pastoral setting and earthy homespun narrative. Even Cage adopts a suitably bucolic demeanour as a reserved but capable father whose protective stoicism masks his stern optimism.

Paul suffers a flaming accident mid-way through the film and takes somewhat of a backseat, but Cage…