I've often wondered what it might be like to be one of the only people left alive in the world - the kind of scenario seen in 'Night of the Comet' (1984), 'The Last Man on Earth' (1964), the TV movie 'Where Have All The People Gone?' (1974), and 'Day of the Dead' (1985). If the post-apocalyptic premise of this type of film appeals to you as well, then The Quiet Earth should keep you more than entertained.
In this cool New Zealand sci-fi flick, it's a top-secret scientific experiment gone wrong that results in the Earth being so quiet. Designed to create a power grid around the planet, Project Flashlight triggers a cosmic event that makes everyone disappear. Well, nearly everyone: Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence), a scientist on the project, wakes to find himself all alone in the world, and does what anyone would do in the same situation: he moves into a mansion, loots all the shops, and goes a little bit insane.
Eventually, he finds out that he's not alone after all: he meets another survivor, Joanne (Alison Routledge), who, luckily for him, is pretty, young, has a nice ass, and puts out. Things appear to be going great for Zac, but then the film effectively illustrates that old idiom 'two's company, three's a crowd' by chucking another character into the mix, alpha male Api (Pete Smith). Tension between the two men is understandably high, but Zac has more important things to worry about: he's been monitoring strange solar activity and is convinced that another 'effect' is imminent...
Despite its cast of just three (dead bodies not counted) and a leisurely pace, The Quiet Earth never bores, the gradual drip-feed of well-rounded characters ensuring that the dynamic of the film keeps changing: loneliness, madness, companionship, romance, jealousy, danger. Also serving to make The Quiet Earth more interesting than many a post apocalyptic movie is its off-beat metaphysical nature, which keeps one guessing throughout.
I can understand how some might be left disappointed or a bit confused by the somewhat surreal ending, but I loved the ambiguity (and the visuals): where is Zac? Has the effect whisked him to the farthest reaches of the galaxy or into another dimension? Is he dead? Is he on a planet ruled by apes? Will he be sent on a quest to find the Necronomicon? Your guess is as good as mine...
