As a devoted horror fan, the Shudder streaming service has a direct line to heart. That’s why news of Ben Brewer’s upcoming Shudder release, Arcadian, debuting at SXSW meant that I had to experience it in a theater with over a thousand other horror-enthusiasts. In typical SXSW fashion, the audience didn’t disappoint and neither did the movie.

There are few actors with a fan-base as loyal and robust as the legendary Nicolas Cage. The crowd was so fired up for his 2022 festival selection, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and they were equally as amped for this world premiere. It’s Cage’s second collaboration with Ben Brewer, their first being the middling 2016 crime-thriller, The Trust. Yet, this time around, they nail the post-apocalyptic, monster-movie genre with their taut action-horror, Arcadian.

The film is set in the not-so-distant future where mysterious, bloodthirsty monsters terrorize at night, banging on barricaded doors and desperate to continue their reign over humanity. Somehow Paul (Nic Cage) manages to survive the undisclosed origins of this planetary invasion along with his two infant sons, Joseph (It’s Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Lost in Space’s Maxwell Jenkins). 15 years later, after a lifetime of schooling his boys in the art of survival, their learning is put to the test when Thomas doesn’t return home by sundown. Paul must venture out into the perils of darkness to rescue his son, while Joseph protects their home by himself.

Arcadian handles its story well, molding the individuality of its characters while immersing the audience in this fearful end-of-the-world setting. The film not only keeps you on the edge of your seat, with white-knuckle tension and thrilling intensity, it tells a story of familial bond. These two brothers were born to the same parents, but they couldn’t be more different. There’s a delicate yin and yang balance to their personality traits. Joseph as the cerebral inventor who can survive on his quick thinking and cleverness, while Thomas has been gifted with brawn and bravery. However, for this family to survive in a world where they’re being hunted by these wolf-like monsters, they will need to harness both their strength and ingenuity.

Not only is Arcadian successful as both a gripping end-of-the-world horror entry and a story with explored depth, but its visuals are also impressive. These unexplained creatures that rule the darkness of night look fantastic and act menacing onscreen. The sound and visual effects aid in bringing these monsters to life in a terrorizing fashion. The ensemble is rather small, but they all deliver in their individual roles extremely well. Much to the dismay of the SXSW audience, Nicolas Cage’s role isn’t as prominent as we all hoped, the pair of brothers get more of the film’s scripted attention. Yet, that didn’t stop the crowd from unleashing some of its trademark rowdiness when Cage gave them the opportunity to cheer.

Director Ben Brewer shows evolution in his craft as a filmmaker. Arcadian may not be the most unique or groundbreaking effort in the post-apocalyptic monster-horror genre, but the film entertains in droves and tells neatly compacted human story of family and survival.