Reel Review: Arcadian Puts A New Twist on Post-Apocalyptic Creatures
Following an apocalyptic event, a father (Nicolas Cage) and his two sons, Joseph (Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins) must fight against dangerous and intuitive creatures at night in order to survive.
When Thomas doesn’t return home by dark, his father goes looking for him. Found in a cave after an accident during his day work, Paul attempts to pull his son out. Failing to get out in time, the two protect themselves with explosives that end up injuring Paul. Making it through the night alive, Thomas bring his father home to his brother. The two realize he is in worse shape then they thought, forcing them to drive their dying father to a neighbors house with hopes of help. After the family refuses to help, Joseph and Paul are sent back home feeling helpless while Thomas stays with the family, and their daughter Charlotte (Sadie Soverall) whom he has a crush on.
Through the film we see this trio of men try their best to survive during unfathomable times. Thomas tries to gain the neighboring family’s trust in order to obtain medicine to treat his father. Their daughter gives in, allowing him to return home with a plan. However, the rest of the family catches wind and captures Thomas. They hold him captive, but through the night the deadly creatures arise. Their midnight attack kills the entire family except Charlotte and Thomas, leaving the house burning to the ground. The two return to Joseph and Paul only to face even more destruction.
Despite their best survival efforts, the rabbit creatures overtake the home. Joseph, Thomas, and Charlotte make it through the night alive thanks to Paul’s sacrifice. Paul lured many of the creatures into the opposite side of the house and blows them, and himself, up. This devastating story of family, survival, and loss isn’t very imaginative or original given just how many post-apocalyptic shows and movies already exist. However, the creature design in this film is extremely unique.
While The Last Of Us is the most recent similarity, Arcadian offers up quite a different style of monster. The creatures don’t seem to make much noise and if they can hear is still undefined. However, their humanlike body mixed with a shutter like mouth movement creates a realistic and terrifying fictional monster. They move like humans individually but are not much faster, but when they group together, they form a giant wheel structure that allows them to keep up with vehicles.
While Nicolas Cage may be the reason you hit play, the unique monsters are the reason to stay. The story is a pretty cookie cutter narrative especially for the genre, but the unique look and movement of the monsters make for a captivating watch. Jaeden Martell is a shining star on this movie taking the lead as the underdog yet ultimate hero.
Arcadian is streaming on Hulu.
