Arcadian (2024) is a tense action-horror film that follows Paul, a father played by Nicolas Cage, as he navigates a post-apocalyptic world with his two sons, Joseph and Thomas, on a remote farm. Set against the backdrop of an alien invasion, the film opens with an intense, chaotic escape from a city under attack, quickly establishing a nerve-wracking atmosphere. Fifteen years later, the family has fortified their farmhouse against nightly alien threats, leading to a tense existence marked by the boys’ sibling rivalry.

The film’s atmosphere is deeply unsettling, with the alien creatures remaining a persistent and horrifying presence throughout. Director Benjamin Brewer, known for his work on Everything Everywhere All at Once, uses minimal yet effective special effects to bring the grotesque creatures to life, keeping their origins ambiguous for maximum dread.

Although the film’s plot is straightforward, the visceral experience of fear and tension takes center stage. Cage’s role as the stoic, protective father is balanced by the performances of his young co-stars, Jaeden Martell and Maxwell Jenkins, who add depth to their strained sibling relationship​.

Arcadian combines a gripping father-son dynamic with the terror of unseen alien forces, and though it may lack extensive world-building, its creature design and escalating fear-driven narrative make it a compelling watch.