Dir: Benjamin Brewer | Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jaeden Martell, Maxwell Jenkins, Sadie Soverall | US Horror 92’
Uninvolving post-apocalyptic thriller that sees Nicolas Cage as Paul, a harried dad living with teenage sons in a remote wilderness where they come under attack from unknown forces.
Paul claims responsibility for this odd lifestyle although no explanation is given as to why. One night their cabin sustains a furious onslaught and in the morning a battered door bears testament to the attack with massive claw marks that seem to point towards a mysterious Alien-style monster in much need of a manicure.
The twin boys are continuously at loggerheads so scripter Mike Nilon decides to soften the feature with a romantic twist for Thomas (Jenkins) who soon starts a tentative relationship with Sadie Soverall’s local girl. But this never really catches fire in a convoluted horror thriller that is not gripping enough to keep us engaged for even 90 minutes.
For fans of Cage’s comedic brand of disaster-struck hero caught in a melodramatic meltdown this will go down a treat, and he certainly carries the film with a slightly more believable role than in The Surfer. That all said the off-the-rails plot and over preponderance of scares in the semi-darkness and macho grunting makes Arcadian eventually feel rather tedious. @MeredithTaylor
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