At 6:12 am, something momentarily happens to the Sun. New Zealand scientist Zac Hobson (Lawrence) wakes up that morning and drives to work. However, on his commute, he discovers that everyone else seems to have vanished. In the lab, he finds a message that Project Flashlight (some experiment to do with a worldwide energy grid) has been completed. He suspects that Flashlight is responsible for the disappearances. After a few days alone, he almost commits suicide, but changes his mind.
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When he finds another survivor, an attractive young woman named Joanne (Routledge), things become a bit more hopeful. They eventually have sex and start looking for other survivors. They find Api (Smith), a big, burly Maori. There is some sexual tension, with two men and only one woman.
Meanwhile, Zac finds a common factor in their survival: each of them was at the point of death, apparently at the exact moment when everybody else disappeared. He also discovers that the effect, whatever it was, may happen again ... and soon. He decides to try to shut down the Project Flashlight equipment, but can't get close to the facility due to high levels of radiation. He tells the others that he will rig a semi truck loaded with explosives with a remote control, but in reality, there isn't enough time. Instead, he crashes the truck himself into the plant. The explosion coincides with the effect.
Zac wakes up alone on a strange open plain. A giant planet with a ring around it (like Saturn) slowly rises over the horizon.
Best part of story, including ending:
It's quite well done, with a minimum of special effects. The relationships between the characters are believable.
Best scene in story:
The final scene at the end, with the planet rising ever so slowly in the sky, is stunning.
Opinion about the main character:
Zac isn't exactly the most likable character, but he comes across as a real person.
