In her 1965 essay, The Imagination of Disaster, critic Susan Sontag wrote that: “The science fiction film … is concerned with the aesthetics of destruction, with the peculiar beauties to be found in wreaking havoc, making a mess.” There is certainly beauty in director Benjamin Brewer’s new movie, Arcadian – but there is also, unfortunately, plenty of mess.
Arcadian follows Paul (Nicolas Cage) and his two teenage sons, Joseph (Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins), 15 years after some undisclosed calamity has befallen the planet. Although it is implied that humans were to blame, the net result is that monsters now roam the countryside. During the day people are able to go about their business, but at night they must barricade themselves in their homes.
Paul and his sons live on an isolated farm and their only interaction with other survivors comes through Thomas’ burgeoning romance with Charlotte (Sadie Soverall), who lives in a small community nearby. Their romance provides a great deal of the movie’s tension as Thomas takes several risks to pursue the relationship. One day, while rushing to return home before sunset, he slips and needs rescuing. Paul saves the day – but at some cost. He is incapacitated, leaving the brothers to fend for themselves.
