We all know by now that a Nicolas Cage film has the capacity to be a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Benjamin Brewer’s Arcadian is no exception. It throws us into a world in a state of noisy upheaval, as Cage’s Paul scavenges what he can to survive and runs home to his infant sons. The opening stretch is blissfully free of context as the end of the world unfolds. How and why it happened isn’t important – only the aftermath is.
Fifteen years on, Paul and sons Joseph (Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins) spend their days peacefully. Cage gets to give a quiet and sincere performance as a father bonding with two teenage boys (teaching Joseph how to drive is a highlight). At night, however, they barricade themselves inside to hide from feral creatures that stalk any living prey.
