The latest film in Nicolas Cage’s vast and rapidly growing filmography is “Arcadian”, an action horror movie from director Ben Brewer. Cage undoubtedly remains one of the most versatile actors working today and here he gets to play a devoted father trying his best to keep his teenage sons alive in a perilous post-apocalyptic world. It’s a good role for Cage, and his more subdued performance serves as a good reminder of the great range he still possesses.

Screenwriter Michael Nilon melds coming-of-age drama elements with end-of-the-world terror to tell a heartfelt family story that is just as much a good old-fashioned creature feature. What sets this film apart from so many others is that these ravenous nocturnal monsters are uniquely terrifying, from their bizarre otherworldly design to the creepily clever way Brewer uses them. And then there’s the family dynamic and the compelling places Nilon takes it.

The story is set within a vaguely defined but terribly dangerous dystopia. Not much is revealed about the world other than there was an environmental disaster that contaminated the air and water resulting in the collapse of society. Paul (Cage) has taken his two teen sons, Joseph (Jaeden Martell) and Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins), and made a home in a remote farmhouse. During the day they scavenge for supplies in the lawless remains of a nearby city. At night they board up all the windows and reinforce the doors. Because that’s when the vicious feral creatures come out and roam.

The first half of the film sees Paul as the anchor. Cage shows seasoned restraint in portraying a man doing his best to be a loving father while teaching his sons how to survive. But about midway through the movie shifts its focus towards the two brothers. They couldn’t be more different. Joseph is quiet and reserved yet bookish and a thinker. Thomas is more athletic and outgoing but headstrong to the point of being irresponsible and careless. Joseph studies and tinkers, trying to find ways to enhance their survival. Thomas slips off to a neighbor’s farm to flirt with their daughter Charlotte (Sadie Soverall), barely making it back home before dark.

One evening, Thomas’ carelessness sets in motion a chain of events that forever change this family’s lives. It’s something that highlights the brothers’ differences while also revealing their need for one another. And yes, it does involve the creatures who have a prominent role in the film’s gonzo final act. This is where Brewer really gets to have fun with his nightmarish creations. He cooks up some good tension and a real sense of peril. He also does well creating atmosphere that ranges from uneasy to downright suffocating.

With “Arcadian”, Brewer (smartly) doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. He embraces several genres while instinctively adding his own creative strokes to each one. He also makes time for quieter moments which allow Nilon’s human component to take form. This proves to be a key ingredient, as it often does with the better movies of this kind.

While watching “Arcadian” the shadow of “A Quiet Place” is pretty hard to miss. But this isn’t some stock quality clone. The film has enough of its own style and flavor to stand out. I do wish we were give more about the world and the gnarly creatures that threaten it. And some of the early character choices don’t make a lot of sense. But Brewer keeps us locked in and on the edges of our seats throughout. Overall “Arcadian” is a genre lover’s delight that never loses sight of the humanity at its core. “Arcadian” is in theaters now.