Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14668 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-08-15
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 87 minutes

Synopsis
A scientist, Zac, wakes up one morning, finding himself alone in the world. He appears to have wiped out humanity with his top-secret project, Operation Flashlight. A search begins for other survivors of the wipeout, and Zac turns to a more nomadic lifestyle as he realises that wealth and excess have no meaning, and realises that life alone on earth is a nightmare beyond all nightmares. The discovery of two other humans gives Zac hope and he embarks on a critical struggle for survival.

Customer Reviews

Simply the best
I always thought that 'The Quiet Earth' was the pinnacle of cult movies. I watched it on VHS almost twenty years ago and I am really delighted that it is now available on DVD, too.

The story of the movie is quickly told. A chap (Zac) awakes one morning to find himself all alone. On showing up at work he finds that the secret project he has been working on has been activated and appears to have reduced New Zealand's (if not the world's) population to virtually zero. He eventually discovers two others and the three of them eventually set off to turn the project off. The actual ending leaves you breathless.

What I love so much about this movie is that there are no special effects or other big-budget scenes, which appear to drive recent blockbuster sci-fi movies. This is simply a movie, which is entirely driven by the actors, their moods, their dreams, their emotions. The apocalyptic atmosphere adds its bit. If you are looking for a traditional science-fiction movie, then this should be the best.

Great sci-fi think piece - below average DVD
The film is a solid B movie, that I first saw over 10 years ago and was blown away then. Best described as Sci-drama (no spaceships, no aliens). A great cliffhanger ending as well. Visually name dropped in the recent 28 days later (all those shots of empty city streets).

The picture 4:3 rather than widescreen. It looks like it was mastered from the same source as the now out of print VHS tape. Image quality is okay - a little soft and a few artifacts here and there - nothing too terible given the age and obscureness of the movie.
Sound quality is rather good. Certainly a step up from the VHS.
The DVD itself is let down by the number of chapters (only 8) and the lack luster menus as well as no real special features, except a few meagure screen grabs.

In summary:
Film *****
DVD *

intelligent, outstanding, memorable, deep, thought-provoker
I saw this film, perhaps fifteen years ago, it stayed in my mind and I eventually tracked it down on VHS once the net had been invented to allow me to find it. Now I need to upgrade to a lasting DVD version - and I don't think I am the sort of guy that buys films often.

It grows very slowly, makes you think about real characters and real psychology. It keeps you interested and manages to kick you in the head near the end.

Science fiction on the surface, but I always wanted to ask the people who made it - maybe they drop into review the reviews once in a while - is it a deep story about LOVE and ETERNAL TRIANGLES too? I read it that way - and the title always reminds me of the last line from Wuthering Heights - one of the world's greatest romances by most standards: "I wondered who could imagine anything more than quiet slumbers for the souls that rested in that quiet earth." ...OR something like that. (I hope this last idea doesn't sound too pretentious and put people of a great sci-fi...)