The Quiet Earth (1985)

A man named Zac Hobson awakens to find himself alone in the world. In a desperate attempt to search for others, he finds only two who have their own agenda.

Director:

Geoff Murphy (as Geoffrey 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:

last man on earth | experiment | parallel world | love triangle | post apocalypse | 

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Taglines:

Zac Hobson was the last man on Earth

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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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:

Clevedon, Auckland, New Zealand

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,825, 20 October 1985, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,123,135

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinepro,Pilsbury Productions,Mr. Yellowbeard Productions Limited & Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The make and model of the vehicle that Joanne (Alison Routledge) steals when she goes after Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence) and Api (Pete Smith) is a Holden Torana LJ (1972-73).

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Goofs

Signs of people that have disappeared are everywhere in the beginning of the movie. But it seems that they took their clothes with them, but left cars and other things that surrounded them. The exception are babies, who left even their blankets and supposedly left naked.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Zac Hobson: [trying to pay for gasoline] Hello... Hello... Hello?

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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 Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)

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Soundtracks

Prelude No. 2
Performed by Kenny Burrell

User Reviews

Engaging

An engaging sci-fi drama about a man who awakens to find himself, seemingly, the last person alive on earth. What does he do? What would you do? Everything's free. You could drive what you want. Wear what you want. Live in the fanciest hotel or simply pick a house to move in to. No laws to obey except those imposed by reality.

But might it not get lonely? And what if you did find someone else?

I plucked this movie off the rental rack on a whim, not expecting much really, but I was pleasantly surprised. By no means was it a 'great' movie, but I think virtually anyone would find it interesting--certainly more so than the claptrap currently being churned out by Hollywood.