1985’s The Quiet Earth delivers a slow-burn of a film with an interesting sci fi story and some good human drama, and it did it on a fraction of the budget of the blockbusters coming out at that time.
What Is It?
Scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence) wakes up to find out that everyone has seemingly disappeared across the planet. He had been participating in an experiment called Project Flashlight to create a global energy grid–which he had reservations about–and he surmises that something has gone wrong which likely relates to the disappearances. He searches for survivors but finds none and then begins a slow descent into insanity brought on by his despair and isolation. Zac hits bottom when he finds himself on the verge of committing suicide, but rescues himself from the brink by choosing to live which in turn leads him to regaining his sanity. He then discovers another survivor, Joanne (Alison Routledge), and is elated to have a companion. These two later find that one other person has survived as well, Api (Peter Smith), and from this arises sexual tension followed by competiveness among the two men. Zac also discovers that the universe appears unstable and that the “effect” that caused most of the population to disappear will likely repeat. The three must then work together to forestall the devastating consequences.
Cast: Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge, Pete Smith
Crew: Geoff Murphy (Director), Bill Baer (Writer), Bruno Lawrence (Writer), Craig Harrison (novel)
Original Release: October 18, 1985
Legacy:
At a time when blockbusters were dominating the theaters, this offered an introspective film made without a mega-budget that delivered some interesting sci fi concepts along with some human drama.
A Closer Look
This 1985 New Zealand-made science fiction film is far cry from the mega-budget Hollywood blockbusters of today as it offers a bleak and terrifying post-apocalyptic tale about a scientific experiment gone wrong, and it proves both thought-provoking and poignant. It unfolds much like an episode of The Twilight Zone extended over an hour and a half, focusing on Bruno Lawrence’s Zac Hobson as he comes to terms with the possibility that he may be the last man on Earth. The film hearkens back to older Science Fiction films like The Omega Man or The Last Man on Earth with its apocalyptic themes, though it manages to improve on both of those by veering away from creep-show gimmicks and presenting a more plausible, speculative fiction story. And while it is definitely slow-paced, it does not bore the viewer. Instead, we become engaged in the story, at first wondering what happened to the other people then watching Zac’s almost pathetic (though at times humorous) descent into madness and then feeling relieved as he returns from the edge and ultimately finds that others survived as well.
The explanation of how the survivors avoided the effect that made others disappear is somewhat murky, and the coincidence that Zac was one of these three to remain (that we know of) may strain your suspension of disbelief, but these present mostly just nit-picks. The Quiet Earth succeeds in delivering a story-focused movie that relies very little on special effects (filmed on a budget of only $1 million) or action scenes. It draws you in with the mystery of the vacated planet while the very capable cast, which consists of only three actors (plus a few extras playing dead people), prove up to the task of keeping the viewers engaged throughout the film. And the fact that they are not your standard, photo-friendly Hollywood actors makes them seem that much more real.
Put this one in the category of slow but engaging science fiction films like Andromeda Strain, Silent Running, and the more recent Moon, and it holds its own pretty well in comparison to those three. And the final scene from the movie delivers an unsung classic moment in science fiction cinema making this a must-see for all genre fans.
Why Was There No Sequel?
The ending of the film left it on somewhat of an ambiguous note, and some would say that it is a major cliffhanger. But the intention was to leave it up to the audience as to what happened next. The Quiet Earth received very little exposure in theaters (mostly in playing in New Zealand), and likely did not turn much of a profit if any. It was a fixture in video rental stores in the 1980s (with few other choices available in the genre), and it may have eventually made its money back in that venue. And while the film has turned into somewhat of a cult classic, the original creative team apparently had no interest in revisiting the project.
Should It Be Rebooted?
This is one that I would argue should be left alone. Its budget was sufficient to tell its story, and for the most part they did it right the first time around. There is no reason to revisit this one, especially if it would end up descending into CGI overload and ignoring the human elements of the original. Fortunately, this film is mostly off the radar, so it seems unlikely that Hollywood would get it into the reboot queue in the first place.
Interesting Facts
This movie was inspired by an experience that an American tourist had in New Zealand in the 70’s. Apparently, New Zealanders typically sleep late on the weekends and the tourist arrived in Auckland on a Sunday morning finding it completely deserted. He claimed that it made him feel like the last person on Earth.
This was the first science fiction film produced in New Zealand.
Where Can You Watch It?
This movie has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, and you can also purchase it VOD. It is streaming for free (with ads) on Tubi TV and Fawesome TV.
