Independently produced initiatives can generate a lot of interest for all the right reasons. You’re bound to be intrigued when you hear promising directors like Neill Blomkamp attempting experimental endeavours with his Vancouver-based Oats Studio. We’ve learned to appreciate and respect his work, particularly when it comes to dystopian films like District 9 and Elysium.
Rakka is the first Oats Studio experiment, and we’ve been following it since he released a few shorts from it. Because of what it offers, Oats Studio was a fascinating proposition in and of itself.
It wants to provide a platform for innovative short films on YouTube and Stream, and if the response is positive, they’re open to turning it into a feature film. In truth, Demonic, a complete horror film, has previously premiered at Berlinale.
Such a community-focused film production always piques our curiosity, and we were blown away by the studio’s capabilities when we saw Rakka. In this video, we’ll walk you through a fantastic short film that will make you reconsider your previous perceptions of apocalyptic scenarios.
Rakka: An intriguing Story of Alien Invasion and Politics
Part One: World
In the year 2020, the film will premiere in Texas. The ordeals that humanity had to undergo in the recent past are narrated by a sad and heartbroken female voice. After an alien invasion proved to be too powerful for Earth’s defences, humanity has been reduced to vermin.
We get our first glimpses of Klum, an alien lizard-like creature who rules over humanity in every way. They not only want to wipe out human life, but they also want to wipe out all traces of our history and culture. The Eiffel Tower has been covered in human skin and flesh, which is a frightening sight.
The surviving humans have been trapped in facilities where they serve as no more than a tool for alien reproduction. We witness a shocking demonstration of the powers of the aliens where they effortlessly destroy buildings and monuments. A black cloud-like ring seems to be their weapon of choice, turning architecture to dust.
The killing of humans was done in multiple waves, and with time, all that remained was a feeble resistance force. There is something about the behavior of these aliens that tell you that they don’t want the Earth to remain the way it is.
Their structures spew methane and cause a massive rise in temperatures that put most of the cities underwater! They even burn down the forests, making the air hostile for humans to survive. It seems to be their own kind of atmosphere where they thrive in extreme conditions.
To make matters worse, the aliens can use telepathy to literally hack into our minds. They seize control of the cerebrum and limbic system, rendering the host helpless and obedient to their commands. But, after all, aren’t we a fighting species? The few survivors are attempting to fight back in their own unique ways.
For example, they’ve built a brain barrier that protects them from the aliens’ mind-controlling skills. Unfortunately, these gadgets are few, and it is impossible to supply them to everyone. However, the rebellion is doomed because it appears that the entire planet will fall within a short period of time.
The survivors live in underground networks and isolated hidings. They barely have enough to eat, and the ammunitions to fight back are rather limited. But, hope seems to be the greatest strength of the human species, and no matter how desolate their condition, they still aim to overcome the odds! The rational thoughts make it clear that it is all over, but some primitive urge to survive keeps them going.
The next sight comes as a shocking awakening to our expectations, as we watch an extraterrestrial entity performing gruesome surgery on a human, chopping open the head. It turns out that they are implanting a mind-control device into the mind of a political leader.
He’s being led about by two alien guards, and he asks everyone to lay down their weapons and join the aliens, rather than being terrified of them! Of course, he’s just a tool in the hands of the aliens, and our heroes, the resistance group, are well aware of this.
They’re hiding in plain sight, preparing to ambush the gang for one small win amid the losses. A woman walks out, making it look like she is willing to take the offer, however, a nearby man successfully sets off hidden explosives on her that kill them all.
The small victory is celebrated by a kid, who clearly has way too much repressed anger against the hostile alien race. We are quickly reminded of the might of the aliens as they decimate a convoy of vehicles in seconds.
A survivor in the explosion tries to shoot himself before being captured but has a strange vision. He watches an angelic figure in the clouds, that the narrator termsBiblical salvation! Is it the key to emerge from the crisis?
Part Two: Amir & Nosh
This section begins on a philosophical tone, highlighting the significant changes between the old world and the post-apocalyptic version. Nosh, the pyromaniac and bomb-maker we saw earlier setting the explosive and ambushing the aliens, is a pyromaniac and bomb-maker.
In the previous world, he would have been imprisoned, but now he is a key part of the resistance movement. Even after his crass manners, his expertise with incendiaries comes in helpful, and he is a valued resource.
We hear about his extraordinary skills, including how he can make almost anything out of scavenged garbage. Nosh is well aware that the resistance organisation requires his services urgently, and he acts appropriately, with a hint of hierarchy in his demean our. Two people from the resistance, a man and a woman, come to deal with him.
The man says there is news that Nosh has been creating something special, but Nosh dismisses him immediately saying it is not for sale! Nosh exclaims how he is happy that the aliens invaded because life for him is exactly how he wanted it to be!
He enjoys the lawlessness and the status he has in society. He asks for some bait in the form of some of the sick survivors who are not needed for the cause any longer. The man is furious, but the woman realizes that Nosh has the leverage in this deal and chooses to comply.
She accepts an offer that would have been ridiculous in peacetime – some sick people in exchange for weapons! It seems that morality no longer has a place in the extremities of the crisis.
The next scene introduces us to Amir, a someone they initially mistook for dead. He was plainly manipulated by aliens, and his head has strange malformations as a result of their heinous experimentation. In the exchanges, he doesn’t appear normal, and we notice his horrible wound or something stuck in his skull.
Sarah, a woman, unlocks him and provides him food, which he devours in no time. She informs him that she will require a favour in exchange for the food he is receiving. The covering on his skull is lifted, revealing what the aliens have done to him. His cranium is some kind of black, bumpy moving mass, almost oozing out– body horror at its best!
The narrator says that Amir has been reborn through the pain and experience, and now, there is something new and special about him! His precognitive abilities that he acquired can be used to be one step ahead of them. It is another glimmer of hope in the gloomy, depressing circumstances.
Part Three: Siege
Rakka’s third and final section depicts the army ready for an attack. Sarah is attempting to get information from Amir, who appears to have recovered slightly from his half-dead state. The others don’t understand Sarah’s obsession with Amir, but Jasper, the resistance’s leading lady, recognises his potential for successful use.
Amir can foresee the future thanks to the implants in his body, or so they think! Sarah begs him to assist them in this losing struggle because he has the ability to alter the battle’s outcome with his abilities.
He doesn’t react, but the more questions she asks, the more his eyes change hue. He foresees the militia successfully taking down one of the alien aircraft. An alien is wounded, and the forces pursue him to finish him off!
But the alien uses his telekinetic abilities on one of the soldiers, and he turns against the others. He is shot dead, and so is the alien. Jasper orders a soldier to cut off its head, and we see Sarah pleading with Amir in the background.
She tells him that helping them is not merely a choice for him now, but the only way out! He is clearly the last hope for the survivors, and the movie ends on this note! You could say that the climax leaves you on a hopeful note, but it is a cliffhanger that is up for your interpretation.
A Few Answers to the Open-Ended Narrative
The open-ended plot that leaves too many unresolved questions is one aspect of this film that makes it both interesting and annoying at the same time. In an interview, the director expressed interest in the idea of an alien invasion that had decimated humanity. He was interested in investigating the aftermath of a successful conquest, which he has done here!
There have been numerous occasions where an occupying force has traumatised the people of a nation or region following a war. It inspired the director right away, and the story is definitely harsh for anyone in the audience who can relate to these oppressed individuals.
One of the first things that come to mind is why the Klum are so determined to exterminate humanity in every form? And in case they simply want to destroy everything, why do they take the trouble of performing gruesome experiments on millions of captives?
This makes us think about what the alien invaders are actually looking for! The answer to this might be in the scene where a divine cloudlike figurine appears before a soldier whose vehicle got blown away.
According to the director, this special vision is the reason why the Klums attacked in the first place. They are a far more superior race of non-physical aliens, almost a God-like entity.
Also, Blomkamp has suggested that the Klums are something like a genetically cloned drone that is not entirely sentient. This means that there is a more intelligent species that we haven’t seen in the short film, and they might be the ones who are sending the Klums to take over the world!
Is there a rhyme or reason to their ludicrous demeanors? Blomkamp clarifies this point by implying that the Klums are missing something, and they came to Earth to find out what it is.
They are permanently altering Earth, but only as a result of their stay exceeding their expectations. What they truly want is a way to interact with higher-ranking species! Because the Klums have been abandoned by this higher extraterrestrial civilization, humans can somehow link to it, this strengthens the God-like hypothesis.
That explains the Klums’ horrific bodily horror and obsession with human bodies, which they explore with by tearing them apart. They simply want to find out what is it in humans that makes them worthy of attention when the angels have clearly turned their back on the Klums or whoever sent them.
This great race may be the key to moving the plot forward, and they may be able to assist the humans in overcoming their sorrow. They wouldn’t do it themselves, though, because they are far too evolved for such childish brawls.
They’d just be a tool for humans to fight their oppressors, and Amir may play a vital role in all of this. If Nosh’s character does not play a significant role in the story’s future growth, we will be unhappy. His nihilistic mentality and tactically savvy thinking undoubtedly drew our notice.
One thing is clear from this short film and it is the prowess of Blomkamp as a visionary helmer. You cannot help but wonder what he could have done with the Alien franchise that deteriorated faster than the environment!
The good news here is that the director has clearly expressed his wish to continue with the plot, and audiences are welcome to pitch in with their ideas of what lies ahead! Do let us know in the comment section what you think could be the next step in the story.
Our Take on the Movie
When we saw Rakka, the first thing that came to mind was how well-made it was. It’s not a Hollywood mash-up of everything you’ve seen in the last few decades; it’s a truly original concept. The opening thirty seconds of the story will pique your curiosity, and we haven’t seen a better story conveyed in twenty-two minutes.
Blomkamp’s characteristic fantasy images will give you goosebumps. Perhaps the purpose of this short is to showcase Blomkamp’s cinematic abilities, and in that case, the strategy was successful.
The digital effects are incredible, and we’re not just talking about short films. They are brilliant even for a proper big-budget movie and having the likes of seasoned creature effects supervisors like Alec Gillis helping out surely made things better. Effects artist Alex Lombardi managed to develop a fluid simulation in Houdini that makes the moving black things in Amir’s head so realistic.
As for the cast, Sigourney Weaver in the lead role is the one to watch out for. The part was originally written for a man, just like it was done for Weaver’s role of Ripley in the Alien franchise. Others do justice to their respective characters, but it is the effects that will blow your mind!
The aliens are made to look absolutely threatening and they are vicious and merciless about their actions. The climax makes us anxious for what happens next! It is all the more reason to hope that they come out with the next part or make a full-length adaptation of this brilliant mindbender!
Of course, there are certain disadvantages. The story leaves a lot of issues unresolved, and one of the most talked-about loose ends is the mystery of the angelic vision! You can’t fault a short film for not giving you all the answers, but the incomplete finale disappointed us because it seemed to be no less than a gripping sci-fi drama.
Another thing that sprang to mind was how vulnerable the adversaries are to ordinary gunfire and explosives. Given their advanced armaments and firepower, we couldn’t help but marvel how they managed to beat the world’s great superpowers in the first place.
I mean, if rogue surviving militia can shoot down alien aircraft with regular guns, we wonder what the missiles could have done! However, these aren’t really flaws, just our thoughts.
Rakka took our breath away in every sense of the term, and we became even bigger fans of Neill Blomkamp after watching this. If you haven’t seen this gem, do check it out.
It is available on YouTube and Stremio, and if you appreciate the content, you can always make valuable donations that will help with the funds that can be used to further the storyline in the future! Depending on the response of the audiences, which has been overwhelming so far, the story could be explored further, and wouldn’t that be a treat!