Queens (2024)

Direction: Klaudia Reynicke
Country: Peru / Switzerland / Spain

Set in political restless Lima, Peru, in 1992, Queens follows two teenage sisters, Aurora (Luana Vega) and Lucia (Abril Gjurinovic), who unexpectedly reconnect with their absent father, Carlos (Gonzalo Molina), just as their mother, Elena (Jimena Lindo), plans to leave the country for good. The elusive father—well-intentioned yet pathological liar—is the most compelling aspect of a drama that never fully excels in any department. 

Given the layered motivations and despite director/co-writer Claudia Reynike's efforts to achieve a sense of balance and restraint, it's unfortunate that the script doesn't go in for more tension and emotional weight. It all feels very prosaic and routine, while the painstaking lengths prevent a genuine connection with the characters. In many occasions, the lack of dramatic spark can't be overlooked, and I wish the director had taken more advantage of potentially tense dynamics. Queens didn’t do much for me.

Arcadian (2024)

Direction: Benjamin Brewer
Country: USA

In its second collaboration with actor and co-producer Nicolas Cage, director Benjamin Brewer (The Trust, 2016) brings us a post-apocalyptic horror tale set in a world overrun by lethal nightly creatures that frantically clap their jaws before massacre anyone in their path. Cage portrays Paul, a vigilant father of two teenage boys, the impulsive Thomas (Maxwell Jenkins) and the resourceful Joseph (Jaeden Martell), whom he instructs in defense techniques and survival strategies. When Thomas fails to return from the nearby Rose Farm before nightfall, panic ensues, and danger looms both inside their farmhouse and beyond its walls.

Arcadian rightfully earns its place among contemporary apocalyptic films, kept engagingly off-balance between horror tale, family drama, and teen romance. The special effects and characterization are awesome, but the tale risks running out of ideas at some point. However, it denotes a firm command of tone and decent visuals. The creepy, original monsters are a motivation and a mystery; Cage, who is revealed to have a special ability to return from the dead, discloses the bravest of the hearts; while the youthful energy and recklessness of the boys inject vitality into the story. 

The handheld camera work may be a minor drawback for some viewers, and opportunities for deeper exploration of character dynamics and the catastrophic events could have been better utilized. Nonetheless, Brewer's direction demonstrates unwavering commitment, resulting in what is arguably his strongest work to date.