A small Australian country town has been in decline ever since its factory was shut down. Now, a bypass is being built that will redirect traffic away from the businesses in the center of town, making things even worse. The residents are holding a charity football match to help raise money for the town when alien ships suddenly appear in the sky and start firing upon the players and spectators. The ships land and continue with a ground assault, wrangling up the humans.
Amongst the chaos, a group of locals manages to escape. Matt Simmons (Dan Ewing) is the town’s former star football team captain, but he had been injured and in a coma for a while. Now he works construction on the bypass, and has an issue with abusing painkillers. Matt is joined by his girlfriend, diner worker Amelia (Stephany Jacobsen) and her younger brother Marcus (Trystan Go), homeless artist Dennis (Zachary Garred), new football team captain Jackson (Charles Terrier) and his pregnant girlfriend Vanessa (Rhiannon Fish), radio host Seth Grimes (Felix Williamson)—who was announcing the charity football match—and 55-year resident of the town, fruit salesman/former Army reserve member Arnold (Charles Mesure). This ragtag group of locals is also joined by a pair of locals who were passing through town when the invasion occurred—teenager Bella (Izzy Stevens) and her estranged stepfather Peter (Temuera Morrison), who was recently released from prison after serving time for murder.
The aliens look like medieval knights with their body armor, but they carry much more sophisticated weapons, and without their helmets, there’s no mistaking them for humans. The invaders have rounded up the rest of the townsfolk, as well as Bella’s mother and brother, and are forcing them to help prepare the land and plant crops for the rest of the aliens to move in. Meanwhile, our ragtag group of survivors heads to the forest where they must quickly learn to put aside their own differences and work together if they are going to be able to save their families and loved ones. They form a powerful resistance group, striking back against the occupying alien force, while inspiring other surviving humans to join their ranks.
Occupation is broken into three acts. In the first act, we learn more about these characters, their current situations, and the fractured relationships between them at the time of the invasion. The second act follows the months of occupation as the group hones its skills and becomes a well-oiled resistance machine to be reckoned with. They are constantly on the move throughout the forests and fields, staging targeted attacks against the aliens, while growing their numbers and reputation. However, at the same time, the group begins to fracture within as questions of morality arise. Are some of their actions and behavior any better than those of the aliens who are trying to wipe them out?! The final act follows the massive final battle/showdown between the humans and the aliens.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this film, even more-so during my second watch-through. While I certainly wouldn’t call this the best alien invasion film, it is pretty solid, and definitely a step above the type of stuff you’d get as a Syfy original movie. The film introduces some interesting characters and relationships that develop over the course of the film. We get to know both sides of this conflict, and the motivations of the aliens. There are real life-or-death stakes—the members of the resistance are not just bullet-proof and unstoppable, and some characters you’ve grown to care about won’t make it through this ordeal. While the film is about an alien invasion, the crux/core of the film is really an exploration of the human characters, and how they react to being in this situation, and how it makes them confront their own humanity and moral decisions. That said, the film also has some pretty cool action and battle sequences—the special effects are well done.
Lionsgate’s Blu-ray release provides excellent video and audio presentation. The picture looks pristine and detailed in both the brighter daytime and the darker nighttime scenes. The colors are well balanced and provide some really beautiful shots. The disc’s audio track provides clear dialogue, a pleasant/inspiring score, and nice use of the stereo and surround channels to bring the action and explosions to life in your living room.
Unfortunately, the disc does not include any bonus material, except for trailers for other Lionsgate home video releases. The Blu-ray comes packed in a standard HD keepcase with a cardboard slipcover, and includes a code for a Digital HD copy of the film (this digital copy is not compatible with either Movies Anywhere or Ultraviolet).
What’s Included:
Film: (1:59:58)
- 1080p / Widescreen 2.39:1
- Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray:
Digital HD (may not be valid after 2020):
- Digital HD copy redeemable via Google Play, Steam, Vudu or FandangoNow
(Not Compatible with Movies Anywhere or Ultraviolet)
Extras:
- Also From Lionsgate (9:49)
Trailers for Siberia, Black Water, Kill Switch, The Yellow Birds and Armed Response.
Final Thoughts:
Occupation is an entertaining story about a ragtag group of Australians who form a resistance against an occupying force of alien invaders. Lionsgate’s release provides excellent picture and sound, but unfortunately no bonus material. If you’re a fan of the genre, it’s worth checking out, or a rental.
