The final part of Arcadian presents the option for another chapter if director Mike Nilon and writer Benjamin Brewer choose to revisit the setting they crafted. Featuring Nicolas Cage in a more subdued role compared to his usual performances, the film received mostly favorable reviews.
As the action horror draws to a close, Cage’s character Paul is still recovering after an attack by the mysterious creatures, leaving his sons, Thomas and Joseph, to defend themselves. Once Charlotte’s home is overrun and her parents are killed by the jaw-snapping monsters, she and Thomas return to the safe house belonging to his family.
A family’s survival hinges on one risky plan (Photo: Arcadian/Redline Entertainment, Highland Film Group, and Saturn Films)By the time they get back, Joseph has already discovered that the creatures dug a tunnel beneath the safe house. After managing to trap one of the monsters, he comes up with a strategy to eliminate them all at once.
Thomas and Charlotte join him, also making sure that Paul receives the medication Thomas had earlier secured. Their plan involves drawing the monsters into a trap and using an explosion to kill them, banking on the firelight to prevent the creatures from attacking.
They hide to shield themselves from the blast and agree to move away from their home together afterward.
Paul’s Final Moments in Arcadian Show His Sacrifice for His Sons
Right from the beginning, Paul had been focused on ensuring the safety and survival of his sons by teaching them combat and self-protection techniques against the night-hunting mutants.
With the level of commitment he showed, it is easy to understand why Paul chose to sacrifice himself by acting as a decoy so his sons could escape danger. Before his death, Paul remembered the moment he first held his twin sons as infants.
Even though Nicolas Cage has taken on many roles over the years, Arcadian adds to his lengthy filmography with a more toned-down performance. As Arcadian comes to a close, Paul sees that Thomas and Joseph now have the strength and knowledge to continue surviving without him.
His sense of peace about dying comes from seeing the results of all he taught them. After surviving an earlier attack, Paul had an idea that his time might be ending. During that encounter, he fought mainly because Thomas was not ready. But when the second confrontation came, Paul knew his sons could handle themselves, so he let go.
Arcadian’s Monsters: Their Past and Strategy
One unusual thing about the creatures in Arcadian is that the film doesn’t give them a specific name. They are afraid of sunlight and have large jaws that can snap and kill very quickly, but not much is known about their origin.
Although Charlotte and Thomas briefly discuss what could have triggered the apocalypse, they don’t have clear answers. Arcadian keeps its focus on the danger of the present rather than giving detailed explanations of the past, which works since both the characters and viewers understand how deadly the monsters are.
What’s more, the creatures appear to be learning and changing over time. The monsters, after failing to break into homes through the front, started digging tunnels beneath the ground to reach people from underneath.
Paul and his sons are not the only ones improving their chances of survival, as the creatures also begin developing smarter methods of attack. Over the years, they seemed to grow more cunning, preparing for a large-scale assault.
Since they couldn’t gain access through the usual means, they began tunneling beneath homes to reach the occupants from below. This method was part of a wider strategy to wipe out the remaining humans and take over what was left of the Earth.
Thomas, Joseph, and Charlotte Choose to Leave Their Old Life Behind
Once the monsters are destroyed by the explosion, Thomas, Joseph, and Charlotte find themselves without a place to call home. Their previous shelter is no longer safe, and Charlotte’s parents are dead, leaving her without a family home.
Because of the increasing intelligence of the monsters, the three young people decide to leave the only place they’ve known in search of somewhere safer and possibly other people who are still alive. They believe that there might still be survivors elsewhere.
Given the creatures are getting more dangerous, the three of them want to travel and warn others of what’s coming. With the information and skills they’ve gained, they can now help others who may be under threat.
Even if wiping out the monsters is not guaranteed, any future battle involving Thomas, Joseph, and Charlotte might stand a better chance because of their experience and willingness to fight back.
Arcadian Makes Room for a Possible Follow-Up Film
The survival of Thomas, Joseph, and Charlotte creates room for a second film, especially since the ending reveals that the monsters have developed a new attack method. Even though nothing has been confirmed, Arcadian could continue by following the trio on their journey to locate a new safe place.
Along the way, they might find more survivors and face new battles with the monsters. A sequel could also show more details about the setting and expand on the bond between the brothers.
Arcadian Concludes Without a Teaser After the Credits
Although there are many ways a second part could be made, Arcadian doesn’t include any extra scenes after the credits. The movie ends with the teenagers leaving their homes behind, facing a future that feels uncertain but still hopeful after everything they’ve experienced.
While not every film needs a post-credits teaser to suggest a sequel, it doesn’t seem like the characters will immediately cross paths with the creatures again. Despite helping to improve Nicolas Cage’s recent movie ratings, Arcadian works well as a complete story, even though it leaves a few unanswered questions.
Meaning Behind Arcadian’s Conclusion Focuses on Family and Survival
The message at the end of Arcadian is clear about the value of family ties and how these relationships help with survival. Although Thomas and Joseph often disagreed throughout the film, their differences played a role in shaping the plan that helped them defeat the monsters.
The quiet moments before the explosion say it all (Photo: Arcadian/Redline Entertainment, Highland Film Group, and Saturn Films)Paul also showed strength in how he protected his family and kept them close. He understood that surviving wasn’t just about individual strength, but about supporting one another so nobody had to carry the burden alone.
When most of humanity seems lost, the film emphasizes how much trust and unity among loved ones matter for survival. Even when Joseph thought he could manage on his own, he only succeeded because of the help he got from Thomas and Paul.
The conclusion reinforces that the brotherhood between Thomas and Joseph turned into a source of power against the creatures they faced.
Reaction to Arcadian’s Ending
Critics continued to praise Nicolas Cage with Arcadian receiving a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience reaction wasn’t as strong, with several viewers saying they weren’t happy with how the film ended, though many still liked the monster design.
One reviewer said, “The story lacked depth and left me with too many unanswered questions about many key points.” Another added, “Much of what it delivers has been done before, leaving little room for genuine surprise or innovation.”
On a more positive note, Rex Reed gave the film a good review in the Observer and wrote: “Arcadian is satisfying entertainment; it stands a step above many other Nicolas Cage thrillers, and the three young actors he shares the spotlight with — Maxwell Jenkins as Thomas, Jaeden Martell as Joseph, and Sadie Soverall as Charlotte — show real promise, and I hope to see them again in future projects.
Their ability to find hope and strength as the film reaches its terrifying ending adds great value to the story.”
