Arcadian

For a low-budget film, the effects work is minimal but effective. Arcadian keeps the aliens’ origins intentionally ambiguous and is all the more spine-tingling for it.

It has some memorable moments and it has atmosphere. I think it is best before it shows its hand, or indeed, its teeth.

Stop shaking the camera! On its own it does not imply excitement or tension... Beautiful score, though. Top marks for the composers Kristin Gundred and Josh Martin.

Brewer also neglects the mightiest special effects at his disposal, which are Cage’s face, voice and hands.

A lean and competent, albeit generic, thriller, with the added benefit of Nicolas Cage.

Though things go off the rails in the third act, Arcadian’s intriguing premise and inspired monster design pack plenty of scares into this post-apocalyptic fable.

Arcadian is filled heart-racing moments and one of the most unique creature-designs I’ve seen put to film

The farmhouse-under-siege scenario, reminiscent of George Romero’s original “Night of the Living Dead,” offers some suspense, but the film offers little else – especially once the focus shifts from the Cage character to the boys. 


Michael Nilon’s script is a wisp of a thing, and so the potential coming-of-age standoff between Cage and his boys doesn’t go anywhere.

With more character development, Arcadian might have been an elevated horror hit. As it is, it’s an entertaining creature feature that will keep the jump scares coming while audiences wait for A Quiet Place: Day One.