10 Best Episodes Of Oats Studios: Volume 1, Ranked By IMDb

Director Neill Blomkamp’s series of experimental films, Oats Studios: Volume 1 debuted on Netflix earlier this month, introducing the collection to audiences who might have never heard of the indie lab’s works. Since Blomkamp helmed films like Chappie, District 9, and Elysium, it’s not surprising that Oats has received widespread acclaim throughout the years.

The series masterfully blends sci-fi and horror elements to create disturbing or satirical stories. Combined with its impressive visual effects, each episode gives audiences a strange yet engrossing viewing experience. With most of the short films originally released back in 2017, it’s exciting to see how the best episodes on Netflix have been ranked by users on IMDb.

10 Bad President: Oil Spill – 4.5

“Bad President” shows viewers exactly what can go wrong if a selfish and egoistic politician is put in charge of the entire country. Set in the White House’s Oval Office, the short film depicts a hungover president who couldn’t care less about reassuring the nation after an oil spill.

There are some funny moments, like when he berates his staff for not being able to purchase Central Park or nags them about his private plane’s Slip ‘N Slide. Not all the jokes land, however, and the underlying message about the absurdity of politics isn’t as impactful as it was likely meant to be. It’s entertaining but is far from being a must-watch short film.

9 Gdansk – 4.6

Two seemingly separate stories are joined together in “Gdansk.” The first narrative takes place in a rural area where a mother holds her child as the father stands guard. An army on horseback arrives, bringing with them an intimidating medieval giant who quickly crushes the father. The second story brings audiences into the future where a general is recalling a voice from his past, berating him for his heinous actions. When a subordinate covered in blood enters the futuristic but dilapidated building, the general orders him to take more gold.

The two plots are connected by greed and humanity’s ruthlessness when it comes to conquering land or claiming resources. While it does have decent visuals and an intriguing contrast between the past and future, the link between the two stories is not clear and could be confusing for some viewers.

8 Cooking With Bill – 5.2

“Cooking with Bill” is its own miniseries that parodies late-night cooking infomercials from the ’90s. It has everything fans might remember from those commercials — the fake set, overly cheerful presenter, supportive co-host, and mostly useless products. The main difference is that things go terribly wrong for Bill and Karen, who have to smile as they present outrageous products like chainsaws and microwaves that turn food into a disgusting sludge.

The episode has shocking moments, like when Bill is forced to gulp down a bloody shake or eat hair and teeth. It’s a horror movie fans wouldn’t watch twice, though, not because it’s exceptionally scary, but because it lacked depth and even its most vicious scenes are lackluster. That said, it is still somewhat amusing to watch the events escalate quickly with each new disastrous infomercial.

7 Kapture: Locust – 6.1

Gary and Jeff are in charge of the twisted experiments that happen in “Kapture: Locust.” The episode is divided into segments that show found-footage-style tech demonstrations of their latest inventions. The pair test military-grade weapons on unwitting prisoners who agree to become subjects because they think it will reduce their sentence. Gary and Jeff have no intention of letting them live, however, as they use weapons like remote-controlled locusts to kill the volunteers.

The scientists’ enjoyment of the whole process makes it an especially disturbing episode. While its poor CGI can sometimes be distracting, it doesn’t take away from the most shocking and violent moments in the short film.

6 God: Serengeti – 6.8

“God: Serengeti” is a satirical portrayal of a god in a short film. It shows an impatient God in his mansion, barking commands at his reluctant servant, Geoffrey. God sees his creations as pathetic and annoying, often ordering Geoffrey to do the dirty work like starting a plague or burning a building.

The setup and characters are humorous all throughout, with God portrayed as a bored creator who makes decisions driven by pettiness. The adorable yet clueless humans stuck in their diorama-like world are entertaining to watch, especially when they scramble to react to God’s handiwork. The costumes and Geoffrey’s fake accent are a bit cheesy but don’t do much to distract from the film’s amusing and ridiculous story.

5 ADAM: Episode 2 – 6.9

In the future, societies expel criminals by wiping and then moving their consciousness into deteriorating robots before casting them outside of the city’s walls. The robots’ only hope is to trudge through a barren landscape to find the Mirror, as she is the only one capable of revealing their past to them.

The rejection and abandonment of these individuals in “ADAM: Episode 2” is difficult to watch, especially when robots are told to leave the weak ones to die along the way. This short film’s impressive visuals and dark setting provide a glimpse into a larger post-apocalyptic world that would, unfortunately, take more than a few minutes to fully appreciate.

4 ADAM: Episode 3 – 7.0

“ADAM: Episode 3” takes place in the same dystopian universe of “ADAM: Episode 2,” except this time it highlights the activities of a cult-like group out in the desert. When a woman begs to join them to learn the secret about how they can breathe without using protective masks, she’s given a horrible test. She has to kill her own brother who was previously expelled from the city and then captured by the group.

It’s a great follow-up to the first narrative that gives viewers a better understanding of its post-apocalyptic landscape. Although its slightly dated visuals are harder to hide because it’s set during the day, it’s still a gripping sci-fi short film worth watching.

3 Firebase – 7.1

Viewers are thrust into a Vietnam war film in “Firebase,” but this time the American G.I.s are dealing with something supernatural. After reports of mass murder in military camps reach the higher-ups, everyone scrambles to figure out how to stop the terrifying River God. Somehow, one soldier can sense the being and is drawn to it.

The most compelling part of the narrative is the River God’s origin, as it’s later revealed that he wasn’t always an enigmatic deity. He was an average Vietnamese villager whose wife and kids were killed in the war. His grief was so heavy that it caused time and space to rip apart around him, transforming him into a monstrous creature with special abilities. “Firebase” is a powerful commentary on the consequences of war. Most fans’ only complaint would likely be that it ends too soon.

2 Zygote – 7.2

“Zygote” is one of Oats Studios’ most recognizable films thanks to its stellar cast and unforgettable monster. It’s set in a remote mining facility in the Arctic circle where two survivors struggle to get away from the grotesque creature that has killed everyone else. Barklay learns about the true nature of “Synthetics” from Quinn, who courageously sacrifices himself to save her life.

Fans likely won’t ever forget the revolting creature that goes after the protagonists. Every time it kills someone, that person’s body becomes part of it. This turns it into a frightening mess of arms, faces, legs, and more. The characters’ constant fear and the claustrophobic facility make the tense moments even scarier. The film packs an incredible amount of backstory into well-written conversations between the two survivors.

1 Rakka – 7.4

The entire planet is in trouble in “Rakka” after reptilian aliens take over and terraform earth, exterminating humans along the way. What little is left of humanity bands together behind Jasper, a fearless leader who commands a group willing to die fighting against the invaders.

The short film has several harrowing scenes that are difficult to watch. It doesn’t shy away from showing brutal and bloody torture by the aliens who treat people like cattle. It’s unsettling to see what would happen if humans lose to aliens, especially since viewers are so used to it being the other way around in movies. This episode undoubtedly deserves the highest rating in the series and would probably be a massive hit if it were ever expanded into a feature-length film.

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