Zac, a scientist working on a global energy project, wakes up to a nightmare. After his project malfunctions, Zac discovers that he may be the last man on Earth. As he searches cities for survivors, Zac’s mental state begins to deteriorate—culminating in the film’s iconic and hotly debated ending.

New Zealander Geoff Murphy’s pensive work stands opposed to the norms of the post-apocalyptic genre. Loosely based on Craig Harrison’s 1981 sci-fi novel, The Quiet Earth takes a serene approach, centering its conflict—internal, racial, and sexual—among the survivors, rather than external forces.