Nicolas Cage is a Hollywood enigma when it comes to his ability to please critics one moment and be on the receiving end of some harsh criticism the next. His latest movie, the horror film Arcadian, has once again seen the actor’s resurgence pick up after a stumbling run of movies in 2023. Following his acclaimed role in Dream Scenario, Cage is once again proving to be back on the right track with his latest offering.

The new monster movie marks another significant point in the renaissance of Cage’s career, which has been one of the most contradictory in Hollywood. After logging a string of hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s when he could do no wrong, Cage’s output became more miss than hit. Although there were glimmers of light, the 2010s were a particularly rough time for the actor and it looked like he was destined to see out his career at the opposite end of the scale to where he came in.

Arcadian (2024)

Release Date

April 12, 2024

Director

Benjamin Brewer

Cast

Nicolas Cage , Sadie Soverall , Jaeden Martell , Maxwell Jenkins , Joe Dixon , Samantha Coughlan , Daire McMahon , Joel Gillman

Runtime

92 Minutes

Main Genre

Horror

Writers

Michael Nilon

However, in 2021 Cage starred in Willy’s Wonderland and Pig, leading to his best run of movies in over two decades. This saw his strong reviews continue in 2022 with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Butcher’s Crossing, before he was brought back down with bump as his four 2023 releases, including the Universal horror movie Renfield, failed to land the same kind of praise.

Arcadian is currently sitting on a strong 85% rating, down a little from its 91% debut after its SXSW premiere in March. After the volatility of his mid-career performance, this is exactly the right movie at the right time to keep Cage’s boat floating a bit longer.

Arcadian Paves the Way for Cage’s Next Movie, Longlegs

Like many of Cage’s best movies, Arcadian is by no means a big blockbuster movie. With a relatively small cast and concise 92-minute runtime, the film sees Cage playing Paul, the father of two teenage sons that must fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Pitched as a family drama, an action thriller, and a horror movie, the ambition of the film to cover all the bases has to be commended, and has certainly paid off for the actor. The official synopsis of the movie reads:

“In a 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.”

Reviews of the film have praised the film’s ability to deliver a human tale in the middle of a monster movie, and with so many “hide-and-survive” movies out there, to be able to give audiences something new in the well-worn genre is a testament to Cage and his young costars. It also bodes well for the actor’s next movie, Longlegs.

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Having teased audiences with an intensely creeping viral marketing campaign, Longlegs will see Cage playing a twisted serial killer. Directed by Osgood Perkins, the film follows new FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) as he attempts to solve the case of Cage’s killer. With a touch of the occult, and the promise of something dark and disturbing, Longlegs could be the next movie to bring even more plaudits Cage’s way.