This is a movie that studied the classics, but doesn’t want to do anything derivative. The story can be gory one second and psychological the next, and with room for jokes (like the aliens with names like “Gary” and “Steve.”) The film has all the hallmarks of a good space opera, combining rollicking acting with deep reflections on morality and what it means to be human. The joy of Occupation: Rainfall is in how much fun you can tell its creators had. The special effects for Occupation: Rainfall are especially impressive. But getting there will require drastic measures.Īlso read: You need to watch the most underappreciated sci-fi spectacle on HBO Max ASAP The answer is Rainfall, a codeword for an American base that contains something the aliens are after. Rainfall’s got all the firepower of a Tom Cruise movie thanks to a cast boasting iconic Star Wars actor (and upcoming Disney+ star) Temuera Morrison, Harry Potter alum Jason Isaacs, and even Community’s Ken Jeong in a cameo role.Īs a sequel, there’s no need to waste precious screentime on why the aliens are here they just are, and the characters need to figure out what brought them here. The Australian setting may project the image of an indie sci-fi film, but don’t be mistaken. The sequel to the 2018 film Occupation, it follows a group of humans as they continue to fight off an alien invasion, this time with some key alien allies who just want the conflict to be over. Occupation: Rainfall is a 2020 Australian sci-fi battle movie written and directed by Luke Sparke. That often makes for more effective and streamlined storytelling, like in this movie now streaming on Netflix. They’re made to be watched on their own, but assume fans know what they’re getting into. That’s why there’s an appeal to watching sci-fi sequels without watching their predecessors. Yeah, maybe there’s an opening narration to establish a little context, but there’s nothing worse than a movie spending the first half-hour introducing devices and characters when that time could be used on exciting action and worldbuilding. The best sci-fi movies are the ones that throw you in the deep end.