The Quiet Earth
![[box cover]](../reviewimgs/q/quietearthvhs.jpg)
There's sci-fi, and then there's good sci-fi. Being fans of the remarkable 1985 film The Quiet Earth, we have no problem placing it in the latter category. Directed by New Zealander Geoff Murphy, The Quiet Earth offers an unusual premise -- a scientist (Bruno Lawrence) wakes up one day to discover that he is apparently the only human being alive, and while there are a few bodies here and there (all of whom appear to have died violently), there is little evidence that people even existed, save for the empty cities that were densely populated just the day before. The Quiet Earth is a bit of a mystery as well as a sci-fi tale, as the story follows Lawrence in his search to discover not only what has caused the obliteration of humanity, but to see if he can find any other survivors as well (he does, but that's as much as we're going to tell you). The Quiet Earth has gained a cult following with sci-fi aficionados over recent years, offering more in they way of ideas than special effects, as well as one of the most stunning closing shots in recent memory -- all of which causes us to despair when we note that Fox has the rights to this film. At the rate they're cranking out high-brow DVDs, waiting for a new disc could be like waiting for the end of the world.