Review of The Quiet Earth (1985) by Simon L — 30 Sep 2008

Remember that Twilight Zone episode where the one guy wanders into an abandoned town and can't figure out what's going on? The makers of The Quiet Earth sure do. Bruno Lawrence is the last man on Earth (or so it seems) and he's at a loss for how to deal with it.

That's the whole first half of the movie right there: one man gradually going insane after the rest of humanity has been obliterated. This part of the fiml is extremely good, borderline brilliant even.

Unfortunately, the second half of the film stumbles greatly once some other survivors are introduced. The simple fact that there are more people isn't a fault, in fact, the movie would start going in circles at that point if there weren't any.

Unfortunately, the rest of the meger cast is neitehr as well writen or compellingly acted as Lawrence's character. Worse, the later parts of the film rely very heavily on special effects... or they would, if the budget had allowed for any.

Instead, The Quiet Earth spends what should be it's most tense moments looking like a poorly concieved student film. Oh, and the much praised "twist" ending is very over rated. I don't regret seeing it, but I can't recomend The Quiet Earth with anywhere near the fervor that its fans do.