"It's difficult to think of the post-apocalyptic genre without picturing zombies, fungus monsters that act exactly like zombies, or barbarians whose insatiable rampages make them, for all intents and purposes, zombies. Such stories are often thin excuses to concoct grim displays of bloodshed and amateur philosophy: most of humanity gets infected or goes mad without civilization's guardrails, so our heroes can blow away the bandits and cannibals guilt-free."
"Maybe, though, we might just get along, or at least quibble no more than we do already. So suggests The Quiet Earth, which hit American theaters 40 years ago today and begins with middle-aged scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence, who also co-wrote) waking to find himself all alone. There aren't even bodies; everyone else is simply gone, whisked away mid-breakfast as though only Hobson wasn't invited to the Rapture."
"The first act is a darkly comic look at life as the last man, as Zac veers between responsibly hunting for survivors and supplies, acting out fantasies of looting malls and living like a king, and sitting around with a shotgun in his mouth. A cog in a vague global initiative called Project Flashlight, Zac fears that his work had something to do with "the event" that's erased even the Earth's animals, and that for his sins he's been "condemned to live.""
"But survivors eventually emerge, and a love triangle comes with them. Zac meets Joanne (Alison Routledge), then Api (Pete Smith), and while both introduce themselves by holding him at gunpoint, passionate hugs soon follow. Zac and Joanne become lovers - being the only people around is certainly more effective than app-based dating - but there are sparks between Joanne and Api too. Api and Zac, for their part, tend to butt heads about who's in char"
Zac Hobson, a middle-aged scientist, wakes to find himself the only person left as the rest of humanity and animals have inexplicably vanished. The opening acts present dark comedy as Zac alternates between responsible searches for survivors and indulgent fantasies of looting and rule-free living, even contemplating suicide. Zac fears his involvement in Project Flashlight caused "the event" and feels "condemned to live." Eventually two survivors arrive: Joanne and Api, each introducing themselves at gunpoint before affection develops. Zac and Joanne become lovers while sparks form between Joanne and Api, and Zac and Api clash over leadership and roles as a fragile social order begins to form.
Read at Inverse
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