July 31, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Nicolas Cage Stars in Arcadian: A Bewitching Apocalypse

New Horror Film Delivers Solid Monster Movie Experience

Arcadian is a new horror film starring Nicolas Cage (Dream Scenario, Mandy), Jaeden Martell (It, Knives Out), Maxwell Jenkins (Lost In Space), and Sadie Soverall (Saltburn). It was written by Michael Nilon and directed by Ben Brewer, who was the lead visual effects artist for Everything Everywhere All at Once. It’s a very solid monster movie and a bewitching apocalypse. It is now playing in theatres, including Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills, and you can purchase tickets here

Watch the trailer here:

The synopsis for the film is as follows: In the near future, normal life on Earth has been decimated. Paul and his two sons, Thomas and Joseph, have been living a half-life – tranquility by day and torment by night. Every night, after the sun sets, they face the unrelenting attacks of a mysterious and violent evil. One day, when Thomas doesn’t return home before sundown, Paul must leave the safety of their fortified farm to find him. A nightmarish battle ensues that forces the family to execute a desperate plan to survive.

While some have compared the film to A Quiet Place, I think it is more of a throwback to the natural horror film Day of the Triffids from 1963. The monsters responsible for the destruction of civilization are mostly kept off-screen in a wise move to increase tension, but when they arrive, with sneaky tentacles and a horrific clacking sound, they make their mark. 

The film’s cast is one of Arcadian’s biggest assets; with Nicolas Cage, you’ve always got a great performance, and his two sons, played by Martell and Jenkins, work well together and with Cage as their father. The two sons create most of the conflict between each other, with one son, Joseph, a quiet genius who always uses his head, and the other, Paul, a more fiery and rebellious type who brings misfortune upon the family because of his love for Charlotte Rose (Soverall). 

The film’s color palette and style are visceral and striking. While the images tend to be dark, Frank Mobilio’s cinematography is well-lit and gives the film the feel of damp earth. It’s not unpleasant, but it adds to Ben Brewer’s world-building. 

With beautiful imagery, scary monsters, and strong performances, Arcadian is a winner as an individualistic kind of humanistic horror film that leans into the relationships between the survivors and their quirks rather than huge amounts of gore. Not to say that there isn’t blood and violence, but it concentrates on the all too human failings that might have led to our destruction.

in NEWS
Related Posts

UCLA Agrees to $6.1 Million Settlement Over Alleged Discrimination During Campus Protests

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

Faculty Group Argued Protest Wasn’t Antisemitic; Judge Approval Still Pending UCLA will pay more than $6 million to settle a...

Tsunami Advisory Issued for Los Angeles Coast After 8.7 Quake Near Russia

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Strong Currents, Surges Expected; Residents Urged to Avoid Beaches and Harbors Update from NWS Los Angeles at 6:50 a.m. “Latest...

Brazen Wheel Thieves Hit Beverly Grove, Hollywood Neighborhoods

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Early-Morning Thefts Leave Cars on Blocks; Residents Coordinate  Los Angeles police are investigating a growing number of wheel thefts reported...

Adam Lambert Cast as Judas in Hollywood Bowl’s Star-Studded Jesus Christ Superstar

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Cynthia Erivo to Portray Jesus in a Bold New Staging of the Rock Opera Adam Lambert will take on the...

Second Grenade Still Missing After Blast That Killed Three LA Sheriff’s Detectives

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Only One Grenade Exploded; The Second Device Has Vanished Authorities said Friday that one of two grenades recovered last week...

Tesla Diner Draws Protests as Musk Faces Backlash and Falling Sales

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Activists Target Musk’s Hollywood Diner, Speak of His Anti-Trans Views Demonstrators gathered outside Elon Musk’s newly opened Tesla Diner over...

Felony Charges Dropped for Man in UCLA Encampment Attack After Diversion Deal

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Malachi Marlan-Librett Must Complete Therapy, Anti-bias Training in Hate Crime Case The only person charged with a felony in connection...

Homecare Company Celebrates 14 years of Compassion While Planting New Roots After January Fire

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Luxe Homecare, a leading provider of compassionate and reliable in-home care services for seniors has recently announced the opening of...

Wallis Annenberg, Visionary Philanthropist and Civic Leader, Dies at 86

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Philanthropist Expanded Foundation’s Reach From Arts to Conservation Wallis Annenberg, a prominent philanthropist and longtime leader of the Annenberg Foundation,...

Award-Winning Beverly Hills Villa Lists for $39.9 Million in Celebrity-Filled Enclave

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Limestone Showpiece Hits Market in the Flats, From Acclaimed Architect Tucked in the heart of Beverly Hills Flats, a limestone-clad...

More Than $50 Billion in Damage: What January’s Wildfire Cost the City of Los Angeles

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Nearly 11,000 Properties, Many in Pacific Palisades, Affected; True Losses Likely Higher Nearly $52 billion in residential real estate across...

(Video) A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

For More Information, Go to Aplustree.com A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles For More...

Gay Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Describes Abuse After U.S. Deportation to El Salvador’s Infamous Prison

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Andry Hernández, Sent to CECOT Without Due Process, Tells of Sexual Assault and Torture After four months inside El Salvador’s...

The Third Place Reinvented: Why Kavahana Is Becoming LA’s New Favorite Hangout Spot

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

In a city full of coffee shops that close too early and bars that don’t cater to the sober (or...

Avocet Playa Vista: Your New Luxury Retirement Experience

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

A wealth of high-end amenities, gourmet cuisine, mind-body programs and stimulating cultural events, centered around a luxury lifestyle retirement experience...