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 | post apocalypse | experiment | parallel world | love triangle | 

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Taglines:

''The creations of our mind should be a blessing, not a curse to mankind.'' - Albert Einstein

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Quiet Earth" is actually based on the experience of an American tourist in New Zealand in the 1970s. New Zealanders always take the weekends off and sleep late. The tourist arrived in the center of Auckland on a Sunday morning and found it completely deserted. He later said he felt like the last man on Earth.

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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

Not for action fans

This movie has little action, instead focussing on the realities of being put in a situation where you are the last person on Earth. It deals with the mental problems that might arise and one man's descent into, and ascent out of, madness.

The science behind the disappearance of the whole human population is best ignored as complete nonsense, but otherwise the movie is solid enough fare.

Likewise the non-Hollywood ending appealed to me, even if I haven't the faintest idea what happened, or why.

And if you find yourself sneering at what the hero gets up to on screen ask yourself this - What would you do if you were the last person on Earth?

Details

Official Sites:

Hanway Films Umbrella Entertainment - Blu Ray [Australia]

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English Maori

Release Date:

18 October 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Quiet Earth

Filming Locations:

Clevedon, Auckland, New Zealand

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,825, 20 October 1985

Gross USA:

$2,123,135

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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