Arcadian offers exactly what I want to see in an apocalyptic thriller. Terrifying creatures loom outside a small family’s remote farmhouse, waiting to consume them. Cleverly constructed traps and weapons are at the ready in case they need to defend themselves. Heart-pounding sequences of those creatures bursting through boarded-up doors with bone-chilling jowl snaps that cause the hairs on your neck to stand straight up. And yet, while these moments are spectacularly executed, Arcadian is not a traditional horror movie. Focusing on the smaller moments of life during end times, like a joyful run through the woods, a first kiss from a pretty girl, and the bond between brothers and their doting father, director Benjamin Brewer crafts an emotional, tender, grounded coming-of-age film that subverts typical genre conventions.

Set against an apocalyptic landscape, Arcadian opens with Paul (Nicolas Cage) desperately sprinting while cradling his twin boys, evident that he is their only protector in this hellscape. Years later, Paul and his sons have aged: himself, older, and the infants, now teenagers. They are the only people around for miles, living a life of near solitude after the apocalypse wiped out most of society. The three upkeep their home like self-sufficient sailors, cooking, cleaning, and creating reinforcements to keep the life-threatening, otherworldly creatures at bay. Paul isn’t one to let his guard down, especially around his children. “Are we not men!?” he exclaims, driving a steak knife into the dinner table. Ever the devoted sons, they reaffirm their commitment to the family unit.

While the twin brothers share the same age, they are also noticeably different. There’s Joseph (Jaeden Martell), the inward intellectual who hides behind his flop of hair to engineer weapons and traps to protect his house and father. And there’s Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins), the more adventurous of the two who runs through the woods each day to visit the neighboring house where his crush, Charlotte (Sadie Soverall) lives. The brothers’ spats are typical, especially when Thomas misses curfew. Paul warns his young son of the danger that lies in the woods, a warning that Thomas mostly shrugs off until he encounters the creatures that threaten his life. Paul thrusts himself into danger, an act that alters the family’s safety and dynamic and forces the two brothers to grow up and heal wounds quickly to save their lives.

Arcadian captivates and impresses with its combination of special effects and emotional heart, both of which can be attributed to the direction of Benjamin Brewer. With previous credits such as Visual Effects on Everything Everywhere All At Once and the writer of Netflix’s crime thriller Reptile, Arcadian is his first solo directorial debut (he also co-directed Nicolas Cage in The Trust with his brother Alex Brewer). Beyond its technical impress, it’s a grounded coming-of-age film similar to Stranger Things, with young people needing to save the world. Brewer shows the small moments with gentle observation. Some are slow and somber which, at times, adds unnecessary weight that the film is forced to overcome. Some of those moments could have been better served with more moments of joy.

Speaking of twists, I was surprised about the smaller presence of Nicolas Cage in the film. It’s a bit of a bait-and-switch marketing Cage front and center when really, his character bookends the film. He doesn’t offer a zany Nic Cage performance, he’s more subdued. The story largely rests on the shoulders of Jaeden Martell and Maxwell Jenkins, who give performances that are wise beyond their years, as does Sadie Soverall.

Overall, Arcadian is a visual and tonal achievement, with great cinematography, although the story does leave a bit to be desired. By being so grounded and raw, it fails to get into the mythology of the creatures, or even let itself have as much fun as it could. Could Arcadian have been even more enjoyable as a silly popcorn flick? Undeniably, yes. If you’re looking for a monster movie with heart-pounding action sequences and tender coming-of-age moments that show the beauty in family during the end of the world, Arcadian is for you.

‘Arcadian’ opens exclusively in theaters on Friday, April 12th.