Benjamin Brewer
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Yes, if you've seen “A Quiet Place,” “Bird Box,” or “28 Days Later,” you know exactly what to expect, but the film manages to inject unique personality through its talented young actors and some truly remarkable monster movie magic that broadly looks practical and not unlike the puppetry work of Jim Henson.
Having similarities to other post-apocalyptic narratives, in particular 28 Days Later by Danny Boyle, and A Quiet Place, makes the plot of Arcadian appear somewhat overly familiar. However, Brewer ensures the audience is absolutely invested in the fate of Paul, Thomas, Joseph, and Charlotte. The bonds that cannot be broken between father and sons, brothers and lovers, parents and their children are tested during a time of monstrous extremity.
Joseph’s observations are reminiscent of I Am Legend (the Richard Matheson novella, not whatever Will Smith was up to), filtered through the carelessness and fearlessness of a teen boy.
The first real glimpse of them is on a par with Neil Marshall’s The Descent, in that it comes from nowhere and immediately makes your blood run cold.
Like “The Green Knight” (2021), the camera briefly pans up to show smoke, and a person in battle gear surveying the chaos from the highest point, before panning back down to focus on Paul’s progress.
The result is an anatomical anomaly that resembles the wirehaired shell dwellers from George Lucas’ THX-1138 with the face of Saelt-Marae (aka Yak Face) seen at Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi.