The word Arcadian is largely used to describe the perfect countryside life; basically, a rural paradise where a man can breathe in peace without worries. Benjamin Brewer’s horror thriller “Arcadian” is perhaps one of the finest works of fiction that I have watched recently. Starring Nicolas Cage and Joseph Martell, this film features the Arcadian lifestyle, but underneath that lies the threat of the creatures who almost destroyed most of human civilization. I loved almost everything in this film because each of the character’s actions is the culmination of the life they have lived so far, which gives them a purpose and helps the narrative stand out as one of the finest in this genre. So, if you are in a dilemma whether you should watch it or not, well, watch it! Right now!
Spoilers Ahead.
Arcadian (2024) Plot Summary and Movie Synopsis:
The film starts with Paul, played by Nicolas Cage, gathering his things and running across the empty lanes while keeping aware of the army that has surrounded the whole place. There’s a declaration in the mics going on about some threat. By the look of the whole scenario, it is clear that a nationwide lockdown is taking place. Some unknown enemy, probably a virus or something, has attacked the world, and the human race is threatened by its existence. Paul somehow manages to escape from all of this and return to an abandoned place.
Paul enters the place where an infant starts crying. Later, we see Paul holding his two infants in his arms, and relief is felt in his long, deep breaths. We see a growing tension within Paul because, amidst such heinous conditions, it is almost impossible to take care of two little children. Fifteen years pass, and we see Joseph is very healthy as Paul stands outside the house, waiting for his other son, Thomas, to return home before sunset.
Why does Paul Scold Thomas for Being Late?
Joseph, being the big brother, acts more responsibly than Thomas as we see Joseph taking care of the doors and windows of the house. He confirms that all the passages are sealed well so that the creatures cannot break into the house in any way possible. Meanwhile, we see Thomas running back home through the forest. The sun sets and Paul is worried Thomas may not make it back to the house. However, when Paul is about to go out looking for him, Thomas makes it back. Paul warns Thomas that if he once again fails to return home before sunset, he will not be allowed to go to the Rose farm, which is just a couple of miles away from them.
The reason is that after sunset, the creatures are out to hunt the humans. The earth is almost cleaned off of human beings. Very few like Paul are left, who somehow have advanced themselves enough to survive their days without worrying about the creatures. In other words, humans do not have the upper hand on Earth now. That belongs to the creatures who hunt.
How does Paul end up in the Cave?
That night, a few creatures attack the house, and while Paul and Thomas guard the door, Joseph is observing the creature’s behavior. Among the brothers, Joseph is the brain. After observing, he says that the creatures’ behavior is suspicious as they do not generally show their emotion. However, this time, by their way of restless knocking at the door, Joseph has found frustration building inside them as they are unable to enter the house. Joseph wants to study the creatures more so that they can go outside without living in fear all the time.
The following morning, the family is busy repairing the door from last night (after the creatures destroyed most of its woods). Paul finds out that Joseph has created some kind of car that’s not starting. Paul repairs it and the engine seems to be going. Joseph says that he has created it so that they do not have to spend their days fearing these creatures. However, Joseph does not mention anything to Paul about his plan to catch one of the creatures as he hides the drawings of a cage he is trying to build. Later, Paul stops Thomas from going to Rose farm and asks him to help his brother go to the river and salvage.
Thomas argues with Joseph because, to him, Joseph is the reason why he is unable to go to the Rose farm. Joseph stops the car, and Thomas tells him to meet him at the same spot on their way back. Joseph goes to the river while Thomas runs to the Rose farm to meet with Charlotte. They spend a good amount of time together, and the sunset is not far away. Thomas runs through the forest. Joseph, on the other hand, tries to start the engine but fails. However, later, Joseph follows Paul’s trick to start the engine and comes to the spot but does not find Thomas there. While running back, Thomas slips on a wood and ends up inside a cave.
How does Paul save Thomas from the Creatures?
When Joseph returns home, he thinks that Thomas has already arrived before him. But Paul tells him that he hasn’t. He tells Joseph to take care of the house while he and the dog, Rocco, go to save Thomas. Thomas has a concussion because of the impact on his hand. When he wakes up, he finds himself surrounded by the creatures. Thomas screams in fear and Paul follows it to finally find a way inside the cave. Together, they decide to spend the night inside the cave as they find a safe spot there.
Meanwhile, back at home, Joseph leaves a certain amount of space open so that the creature can come in. Joseph keeps himself as bait when the creature very carefully enters the house. When the creature is about to attack Joseph, he traps it brilliantly with his cage. Inside the cave, since Paul and Thomas have stopped the opening, the creatures try to come at them from underneath. Seeing that there is no way out, Paul holds some bombs in his hand and asks Thomas to stay back. When the creatures attack them, Paul ignites the bomb.
The following morning, Joseph goes to search for his father and brother. He finds them inside the forest. Paul is in a critical condition when they bring him back to the house. Thomas finds out about the creature caged inside the house. Subsequently, he tries to kill it, losing the chance for Joseph to study about the creature. Anyway, just like previous occasions, Thomas could only create a problem and Joseph steps in to solve it by helping him kill the creature. Later, Thomas decides that they need to take their father to Rose farm because they have medicines.
Joseph tells him that they will not allow anyone else because people already have a very limited supply for themselves because of the creatures. But Thomas convinces Joseph to take Paul to the Rose farm. Sadly, the owners of the Rose farm do not allow Joseph and Paul. However, they suggest that Thomas can stay if he wants because they have known him for a long time, and even their daughter, Charlotte, shares a good bond with him. Joseph leaves the place with Paul as the brothers have a spat between themselves when Joseph blames Thomas for not taking any responsibility.
What happens at the Rose Farm?
Thomas stays at the Rose farm to spend the night, but he feels that he is needed at home. He asks Charlotte for the medicine, as her parents wouldn’t spare any. Charlotte gives him the medicine, and Thomas runs back to his home. One of Mr. Rose’s security men overhears Thomas talking about medicine to Charlotte, so he waits for the moment to catch Thomas red-handed. Later, they bind him and hold him while one of the men is about to shoot at his leg for stealing.
But suddenly, the creatures come from underneath, killing almost everyone on the farm. Thomas somehow manages to escape absolute death as he meets Charlotte outside the farm. Thomas sees the whole house burning. Charlotte tells him that her parents are dead because the creatures have taken over the place. Meanwhile, back at home, Joseph finds holes in the ground and doubts that the creatures are planning something because they are intelligent. So, he prepares himself as Thomas and Charlotte come to help him.
Arcadian (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Why does Paul Sacrifice his Life to Save his Family?
Paul regains his consciousness, and Joseph tells him about the situation. Since the creatures will come from the ground, Paul says that there is no other way around it except to fight them. Joseph has a plan, and Thomas, along with Charlotte, prepares themselves to give him the time he needs. When the creatures finally come, they all fight fiercely with them as Paul finally wakes up and starts shooting the creatures. There comes a time when Paul sees his sons killing the creature, looking out for each other’s backs all the time.
It makes him feel accomplished as he remembers the time when he was not even sure how he could keep both of his sons alive amidst such a crisis. Paul has fought enough. Now, he feels that it is the right time to pass the baton to his sons as they are well-prepared. Paul is proud seeing how his sons grow up to be fighters because in the world they are in right now, only saviors can outlive the others. He understands that Joseph’s plan is to hide inside the refrigerator and blast the whole house down.
Paul knows that the refrigerator cannot sustain all four of them, so he decides to close the door and guard it. Paul guards their son for one last time as the whole house is set on fire. Thomas, Joseph, and Charlotte come out of the refrigerator when one of the creatures still chases them as they run away in the car. Charlotte hits the creature with the gun, and finally, the valley is free from the creatures. The creatures have planned the thing entirely so that they can catch the humans off-guard. But Joseph has been prepared himself because he observed the change in the nature of these creatures.
At the end of the film, we see the three of them remembering their beloved as Joseph plans to explore the rest of the valleys if anyone is able to survive the night like them. The origin of these creatures remains unknown because there are only stories about them where they are described as the sins of humans that have come to cleanse the earth from humankind. In the end, the trio sees a sky full of stars, meaning that the pollution is going down. Soon the earth will heal itself, making it more habitable for humankind, once again.
