The Quiet Earth (1985)

A man awakens to find himself alone in the world.

Director:

Geoff Murphy

Writers:

Craig Harrison (novel), Bill Baer,

Stars:

Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge, Pete Smith

10 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bruno Lawrence	...	Zac Hobson
Alison Routledge	...	Joanne
Pete Smith	...	Api (as Peter Smith)
Anzac Wallace	...	Api's Mate
Norman Fletcher	...	Perrin
Tom Hyde	...	Scientist

Storyline

A man wakes up to find himself literally alone in the world, and goes about trying to find other survivors, as well as to find out what happened. He suspects that a government research project he was involved in had something to do with the disappearance of everyone. Eventually he finds several other people, and once they begin to trust each other they try to figure out why they were left on earth.

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Plot Keywords:

apocalypse | laboratory | hair dryer | experiment | maori | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Mystery

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Terra Tranquila

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,595,097 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinepro, Mr. Yellowbeard Productions Limited & Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Zac calls the energy grid, "Project Flashlight". Ironically enough, there was an American defense project called "Operation Flashlight" around the same time as the film. The operation, however, involved low-yield atomic blasts, small enough to destroy a single room, but nothing else.

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Goofs

In the scene where Zac cries "aaa!" in the cathedral, you can see a white car passing in the distance.

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Quotes

Zac Hobson: I've been condemned to live.

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Crazy Credits

During the closing credits the scene cuts to a close up of Zac Hobson staring in stunned disbelief at what he's beholding. Then he realizes he's still holding his mini-tape recorder in his left hand, and after a moment of contemplation lets it drop to his side, as if there are no words to describe the sight.

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Connections

Referenced in 28 Days Later... (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Prelude No. 2"
Performed by Kenny Burrell

User Reviews

The most incredible ending...ever

I have not seen this movie in ages.

The ending stuns me to this day.

I honestly cannot remember how I came upon this film but it was most likely in the "$1 previously viewed bin" at the old RKO Video Store on 47th Street in Manhattan.

I still own this copy and refuse to part with it, no matter how much it fetches on ebay. I sincerely hope they release a DVD here in the u.s.

Reading the other comments brought the film back to me but I remember clearly watching his descent into madness brought about by being the only one left and that ending leaves you breathless.