These days, it’s hard to imagine a genre film festival without at least one Nic Cage film. Luckily, this year’s Overlook Film Festival delivered with the latest Cage film, Arcadian. Director Benjamin Brewer (The Trust, Beneath Contempt) and writer Michael Nilon (Braven) craft a story about a man and his two sons trying to get by in a post-apocalyptic world. After surviving for 15 years in a remote farmhouse, the dangers lurking in the dark will test their minds, strength, and love for each other.

Arcadian is a surprising and unexpected creature feature that takes place at the end of human civilization. The film starts by showing Cage in the city, scrounging for supplies as an unseen war seems to rage nearby, before returning to his infant sons. Jump to 15 years later, and Cage has relocated his family to a remote farmhouse surrounded by stunning wilderness. During the day, the family unit does various chores and duties to ensure they have everything they need while also making sure the house is secure, sometimes even visiting others at nearby farms. Before the sun sets, they go back inside and secure every possible entrance to keep out whatever led to the fall of humanity.

Arcadian starts out as a survivalist story, slowly introducing the three leads, their family dynamics, and how they live in this new reality. The focus is primarily on the teenage brothers, two very different boys, who demonstrate how classic sibling rivalry and teenage angst can be far more dangerous at the end of the world. The horrors that await are always looming in the dark, hinting at what’s to come, and allowing the suspense to build. Once the creatures are finally revealed, the film quickly goes from survivalist slow-burn to high-octane monster carnage.

There is a lot of mystery throughout the plot of Arcadian, leaving the audience just as in the dark as the characters are. Throughout the film, there are a few different theories presented as to what triggered this apocalypse, but it’s evident no one really knows for sure. Naturally, this sense of mystery extends to the creatures themselves. While not knowing their origin in the grand scheme of the apocalypse works well, there are certain elements that could have done with further explanation. In the climax the creatures are shown doing some rather odd things that are absolutely horrifying, but also a bit confusing. If these people had been living in a monster-filled world for 15 years, one would think at least some of these strange behaviors would be explained, or at the very least theorized. It’s clear the filmmakers were trying to strike a balance between what is known and unknown, but the scales may have been tipped a bit too far, leaving many lingering questions.

All three leads in Arcadian deliver engaging, dynamic performances. Nicolas Cage (Mandy, Pig) plays Paul, the family patriarch. Cage takes a bit of a back seat in this film, giving a rather subdued performance that perfectly conveys his paternal love for his sons and his willingness to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. This allows for Paul’s sons to be at the forefront of the story. Jaeden Martell (IT, Knives Out) plays Joseph. Joseph is the kind of teen who is highly intelligent and resourceful, studying all kinds of books and repairing things around the farmhouse, though he is socially awkward. Maxwell Jenkins (Lost in Space, Sense8) plays Thomas. Thomas is much more of a typical teenage boy, being very physically active and wanting to rebel and break out on his own. While Martell and Jenkins both deliver great performances on their own in these roles, it’s when they’re together that the two really shine. They are able to authentically portray siblings, as they bicker and resent each other much of the time, but under it all is an unwavering brotherly love that binds them together through thick and thin.

For the first half of the film, the audience is treated to stunning cinematography. Filmed in Ireland, Arcadian features beautiful scenery of rolling green fields and lush forests surrounding the somewhat rundown stone farmhouse the family calls home. There is also some really unsettling production design to create large cracks and holes that go deep into the earth where the creatures live, making them an ominous sign of the horrors to come. Horror fans are sure to immediately take notice of the creature design. While the CGI work was likely held back due to the budget, what the filmmakers were able to achieve is quite impressive. These monsters are unlike anything I’ve ever seen, bringing about chaos and fear that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Arcadian is an unexpected coming-of-age story with teeth, placing sibling rivalry and survival at the forefront of a monstrous apocalypse. Brewer brings Nilon’s screenplay to life, allowing the performances to shine before the real horrors begin. Martell and Jenkins are wonderful as brothers and manage to hold their own alongside the cinematic legend that is Nic Cage. While audiences might wish they knew more about the things plaguing these protagonists, the creature design and ensuing chaos deliver white-knuckle terrors that are as entertaining as they are frightening. If you missed Arcadian on the festival circuit, be sure to catch it in theaters starting on April 12th.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10