Sci-fi sequels are virtually obligated to go bigger, but whether or not that proved to be the best move for Occupation: Rainfall remains entirely up for debate, although you definitely can’t fault the follow-up for its ambition.
The opening installment was the definition of a passion project, with Luke Sparke raising the $6 million budget through investors in addition to writing, directing, editing, and producing through his own self-funded company SparkeFilms. Reviews were tepid to say the least, but Occupation was undeniably impressive on a visual level given its origins and limitations.

Pushing the boat out to a massive degree, Rainfall was over four times expensive at a cost of $25 million, but besides an increase in scope, scale, and spectacle, it felt derivative of a hundred better movies. Audiences have seen plenty of stories focusing on a dwindling band of human survivors mounting a last-ditch assault against their intergalactic invaders in order to safeguard the future of the planet, so there’s not really much narrative or world-building inventiveness to be found.
That shouldn’t detract from Sparke’s achievement, though, and seeing as FlixPatrol has named Occupation: Rainfall as one of the most-watched features on Prime Video’s global charts this week, there’s obviously plenty of genre aficionados willing to give it a shot.
There’s been murmurings of the third chapter, too, but as of yet it hasn’t officially been announced. The potential is there for a lo-fi trilogy that could realistically creep towards cult status, we’ll just need to wait and see if it ends up happening.
Published: Oct 26, 2023 01:56 am