OCCUPATION RAINFALL
Australia, 2021, 120 minutes, Colour.
Dan Ewing, Daniel Gillies, Mark Coles Smith, Lawrence Makoare, Jet Tranter, Temuera Morrison, Izzy Stevens, David Roberts, Trystan Go, Zac Garrad. Ken Jeong, Jason Isaacs, Dena Kaplan,
Directed by Luke Sparke.
This action-filled adventure is, in fact, a sequel. In 2018, writer-director, Luke Sparke made Occupation, a story of aliens attacking earth, specifically the City of Sydney, the resistance built up to confront the aliens, refugees from the city and their setting up a kind of post-apocalyptic community.
Looking at the reviews of Occupation (and of Luke Sparke’s previous film, an Australian thriller, Red Billabong), one is rather dismayed at how negative they all are. Enough to discourage any writer and director early in his career. But, happy to say, Luke Sparke was not put off and, to coin a phrase relevant to the action, all guns blazing, has not hold held back in producing this quite spectacular War of the Worlds alternative.
It runs for two hours, barely pausing for breath or silence, often a booming soundtrack, effective and rapid editing (by Sparke himself), that will sweep most audiences along with it. Except that they will be wondering about the rainfall of the title, a teaser given at the beginning of the film (with added spice by the presence of American comedian, Ken Jeong) revelations not coming until the adventure nears its end.
The audience has to be in admiration that this is an Australian production, big wide screen, lots of special effects, settings of war and battles, ugly aliens, harassed refugees, the ruins of Sydney, the broken arch of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House on fire – and some spectacular shots of the Blue Mountains where, in the past, the government has set up all kinds of war strategy offices within the mountains. Usually, this kind of action takes place in Los Angeles or New York, so it is welcome (perhaps not the best word in the circumstances) to see the action in and around Sydney, and with Australian accents!
Of course, this kind of material has been seen before, and often. But, that is not the point. Fans of this kind of science-fiction-fantasy are eager to see more of the same, especially if it is done with spectacle, speed and tension.
A number of the cast of the original Occupation have returned for this sequel. Dan Ewing is Matt, a somewhat gung-ho (and highly bigoted anti-alien soldier, suspicious even when an alien is cooperating). Probably most audiences will differ from Matt as well as from the even more hawkish commander, Hayes (Dan Gillies). They will probably like very much the sympathetic alien whom Matt nicknames Garry (because it looks like a Garry!). Garry, participates in the key battles, goes on a mission with Matt and stowaway, young Marcus, flying, riding on metallic alien horse-creatures, finally encountering the community from the first film, led by Temuera Morrison and Izzy Stevens, this leading to their arrival in Pine Gap, long since abandoned by the Americans leaving only a comic caretaker (Ken Jeong whose US repartee wears thin quickly) and an Americanised alien (of the pop-culture variety voiced by, of all people, British Jason Isaacs!).
Lots of other key characters, some moments when we see the Australian military caging aliens, including women and children, and experimenting as if it were The Island of Dr Moreau. Mark Coles Smith as Wessex and Jet Tranter as Amelia provide sympathetic characters and heroics.
So, we do learn something about Rainfall during this alien Occupation – but what happens to Matt and his associates, to Garry? The credits come up – indicating this is Occupation Rainfall Chapter 1. We can hope that this film will be popular amongst the fans, not only at home, but well beyond and in the United States. Box office more than sufficient for a sequel…
1. The popularity of alien invasion films, War of the Worlds? An Australian production? Interpretation?
2. The title, the original film, the invasion, the destruction of Sydney, the refugees and their community? Continuing this theme, Sydney and destruction, war with the aliens, friendly aliens, evacuees, isolated communities, the visit to Pine Gap? The Australian cast? The American presence?
3. Widescreen photography, the sets, the City of Sydney, destruction, interior plants and vastness, the countryside, the Blue Mountains, the desert, the settlement, Pine Gap interiors? The musical score?
4. The special effects, combat, explosions…? The editing and pace?
5. The situation in Sydney, the destruction, and the aliens and their presence, the spaceships? The population and harm? The evacuations? The vehicles, the dangers, driving out, into the countryside, the pursuit, guns?
6. The personnel and the responsibilities? Matt, his hawkish attitudes, antagonism towards the aliens? Mistrust of the friendly alien? Calling him Garry, the glib reasons? The discussions with Hayes, with Amelia? The need to go on mission, his going with Garry, Marcus stowing away, his age, inexperience?
7. Amelia, her relationship with Wessex, his leading the evacuees? His authority? Amelia and her clashes with Hayes? His gung-ho command? Amelia and her mission within the plant, her going through the barriers? The discovery of the aliens, in cells, caged, the experiments? Her reaction, setting them free?
8. Hayes, authority, stern, those working for him? The clash with Amelia? The turning against him? The role of Wessex? Subduing Hayes? The turning of the tables? The buildup to the confrontation with Amelia? His death? Bullets, the women, on mission? Dangers? Wounds and destruction?
9. The evacuees, the dangers, in the vehicles, the pursuit? Saved?
10. The special mission, the iron horses? Flight, and landing? The confrontation with the aliens? Gary and his leadership? Matt rescued?
11. Peter, his daughter, the community, meeting the mission group? Giving them hospitality? Discussions about the community? The rival community, the rival leader, the confrontation, demanding the removal of the alien? Confrontation, Peter taking a stand, the group with drawing?
12. The continuation is a mission, Pine Gap, the opening with the reference to rainfall in the American caretaker? Resuming the episode, the Americans abandoning Pine Gap, the caretaker left in charge, his loyalties, yet persuadable? Steve, the Americanised alien, the comic patter between the two?
13. The discovery of rainfall, the weapon, installed? The spacecraft and the attack on Pine Gap? The group, the heroics, Garry and his decisions, the use of the weapon, confronting the aliens, the leader in the spacecraft? Destruction?
14. The group going into space? Matters settled on Earth? But the indication that this was only chapter 1…?
