In the latest Cage-asance, we’ve seen the icon try his hand at every kind of performance. In Renfield, Nicolas Cage plays Dracula as both broad and comedic. Meanwhile, his hermit chef in Pig showcased his emotional and subdued side. He even returned to his self-effacing oddity in Dream Scenario. Few actors can match Cage’s willingness to swing for the fences, and Arcadian hopes to follow suit. On paper, it’s a perfect match. Not only does it give him a chance to fight monsters, but he can embrace his penchant for being a badass. However, Arcadian stumbles with its internal logic and unintentional comedy. It’s still a fun creature feature, even if it’s an imperfect one.

After society collapsed, Paul (Cage) and his sons Joseph (Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins) fight to survive. At night, monsters roam the countryside. They want to reach the family, but living in constant danger brought on a routine of boarding up the house each night. Thomas visits a neighboring farm, working for Mr. Rose (Joe Dixon) so he can spend time with his daughter Charlotte (Sadie Soverall). One night, Thomas slips and falls, hurting himself in the process. When he does not return home by nightfall, Paul sets out to save his son before the creatures find him.

Director Benjamin Brewer reteams with Cage after 2016’s The Trust. This time, the two lean into a far more dangerous world, and Brewer showcases his visual effects acumen. He served on the VFX team for Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, and seems to have learned how to keep the effects cheap but effective. The creature designs are truly unique, with movements and attacks I’ve never seen. Even though the story and screenplay credit goes to Michael Nilon, Brewer approaches every shot from a granular level. Unfortunately, this leaves too much darkness in some moments, but it is undeniably accurate. Even so, this does not always leave the movie looking as cinematic as one might hope.

However, the creature design comes across as inconsistent. The creatures consistently break out new “powers” or skills that are never repeated again. One scene in a farmhouse recalls several popular alien movies, but then never comes back. Other aspects draw from ants, including an attack style and travel choice. However, these moments are not given the power they require to function in the story, and feel more like gimmicks to keep the audience guessing.

Cage’s performance is good, but it’s nothing we have not seen from him before. His presence almost certainly got the movie made, and the other actors use the opportunity presented to them. Both Martell and Jenkins carry much of Arcadian, especially in its second half. While Martell broke onto the scene with It in 2017, Jenkins feels like the breakout. Both actors have headlined big franchises (Jenkins starred in Netflix’s Lost in Space), but neither has been forced to lead a film quite like they do here.

Early on in Arcadian, Martell and Jenkins struggle over the direction of a task. While Martell wants to follow his father’s request, Jenkins wants to spend more time with Charlotte. Each character’s distinct motivations inform a lot about their life in seclusion and make it hard to ignore the Covid parallels. While there’s disinformation and a lack of knowledge about the creatures trying to kill everyone, the tension building amongst the family comes from being cooped up too long. It’s an important development step for the boys and becomes the heartbeat of the movie.

Much of Arcadian comes from their perspectives, and with the camera so focused on their subjective experience, they have to carry us through the action. Both excel at this aspect, and Brewer wisely allows them to develop scenes. Jenkins and Soverall display chemistry, but she does not get enough development throughout the movie. Unfortunately, Soverall is seemingly pushed into the “love interest” role, even though she loses just as much as anyone involved.

While Arcadian features some very cool setpieces, it struggles to fully come together. It should strike a chord with horror audiences or anyone who enjoys Bird Box or A Quiet Place. However, with a lower budget and a slightly thinner screenplay, it does not rise to its heights. The second half of Arcadian is a blast, but with questionable development early on, it leaves the movie too inconsistent to succeed fully.

Alan’s Rating: 6/10Watch Arcadian at SXSW 2024. Check out additional screenings here. Check out our SXSW 2024 coverage! We are reviewing movies, breaking down events, and interviewing talent!The post SXSW: ARCADIAN – Nicolas Cage & Sons Fight Some Monsters appeared first on Sunshine State Cineplex.