Unveiling the Most Mind-Blowing Mid-Budget Sci-fi Masterpiece Surpassing Big Studio Blockbusters

It's safe to say that the budgets of blockbuster films have spiraled out of control. Most high-budget film projects are based on marketable intellectual property, ensuring massive box office earnings in the hundreds of millions. Unfortunately, studios are not satisfied with just vast sums of money. Many blockbusters are deemed failures if they don't surpass the billion-dollar mark. To learn how to create something impressive with a smaller budget, one can look to lesser-known epics like Occupation: Rainfall.

The use of CGI in contemporary cinema is a sensitive topic. The technique of using digital backlots, commonly employed by studios to create awe-inspiring settings as well as mundane backdrops, has been marred by numerous poor examples. VFX artists, who diligently dedicate themselves to their craft, often face mistreatment. However, the issue primarily stems from those higher up in the industry.

What is Occupation: Rainfall about?

Two years after an extraterrestrial invasion, Occupation: Rainfall portrays a world consumed by war and distrust. In an effort to annihilate humanity, the invaders deployed armies of automated drones. However, a determined resistance movement joined forces with a group of aliens known as the Greys and managed to thwart the competition. Now, the Greys have sought refuge on Earth, but are met with resentment and fear from the planet's inhabitants. While human resistance fighters continue to battle the alien invaders, empathetic Earthlings offer assistance to the oppressed Greys. Amidst this chaos, a faction of Greys shares classified information about a covert military program, including a lethal weapon.

Assigned with the task of uncovering the truth behind the enigmatic Project Rainfall is Matt Simmons. To complete his mission, he must venture to Pine Gap, assimilate into its culture, and unravel the mysteries surrounding Rainfall's capabilities. Reluctantly, Simmons is accompanied by a Grey named Gary, who serves as an interpreter. Tensions persist between them as Simmons guides his squad to the residence of his former comrade-in-arms, resulting in a harrowing confrontation with the locals. As tensions escalate and the stakes are raised, the fate of the world becomes intertwined in the crossfire. This epic conflict pits the resourceful human resistance against a colossal alien army. Starships illuminate the skies, armies of robotic soldiers ravage the landscape, and various species manifest with captivating intricacy. From a personal standpoint, the grandiose scale of this conflict is truly awe-inspiring.

How much did Occupation: Rainfall cost?

Occupation: Rainfall was produced with a budget of 25 million Australian dollars, equivalent to just under 16.5 million USD. To provide some perspective, the cheapest Marvel movie to date, Ant-Man, had a budget of $130 million, making it eight times more expensive than Rainfall. However, comparing it to Marvel might not be fair considering their enormous stature in the entertainment industry. Let's consider Jiu Jitsu, a sci-fi action film released in the same year. Despite being a much smaller production, it had a budget of $25 million and appeared noticeably low-cost throughout. The issue here is not the actual amount spent on a film; a low-budget movie can still look fantastic, while a big-budget one can end up subpar. We all have countless examples of both. The problem lies in how the money is utilized.

With Occupaition: Rainfall, it's clear that a significant portion of the budget was invested in visually captivating effects. While it may not achieve the same level of realism or grandeur as the Star Wars franchise, it does offer vibrant colors, striking imagery, and a wealth of creativity on display. In fact, some artists who previously worked on The Last Jedi were involved in this project. Additionally, Temuera Morrison, known for his roles as Boba and Jango Fett, plays a supporting character in the film. While comparisons to George Lucas's masterpiece are made, apart from a shared cast and crew, the two films have little in common. What Rainfall does possess is an epic and heartfelt narrative, accompanied by a remarkable level of creativity, all achieved with a relatively tiny budget. In an era when Hollywood seldom produces such movies, it is commendable that someone stepped up to the plate.

Will Occupation: Rainfall have a sequel?

If fans stayed until the credits, they would discover that the answer is most likely yes. The film ends by declaring itself as the initial installment of an ongoing narrative. Rainfall is, in fact, the sequel to the 2018 movie Occupation, but it stands strongly on its own. Writer and director Luke Sparke is reportedly actively developing Rainfall Chapter 2. Meanwhile, Sparke has released a horror film called Devil Beneath, which is a revised version of the 2016 film Red Billabong. While it has received mixed reviews, some fans have enjoyed it.

Occupation: Rainfall is an enjoyable sci-fi spectacle that contains a lot of emotion. While it doesn't revolutionize the genre, it will be a hidden gem for fans of alien invasions, sci-fi action, or peculiar extraterrestrials. The first movie brings much of the same enchantment, but Rainfall appears to be where Sparke truly shines. Await Rainfall: Chapter Two to witness if he can maintain his exceptional ascent.