Survival Earth

In this Canadian rendering of a potential "apocalypse then", in 1990, after the collapse of modern civilization (due to atomic "accidents" and the "failure" of the world's economy), a young couple tries to carry on a quiet life in an uncivilized world. They are joined by a wandering soldier-of-fortune, who helps them survive the repeated attacks of mutant packs of human scavengers that have begun to evolve (mysteriously) back into animals. Mister soldier also eats their dog at one point. But an even darker threat comes from a lone figure, shadowing them wherever they go...

This is a hidden gem. I must begin by stating that I don't look for special effects to interest me. I look for story and characters. If you want special effects, forget this low budget sci-fi story that plays out like a Twilight Zone episode. It's a different type of "apocalypse" story. It isn't one of those off goofy ones with a hundred crazy things going on, and that would work for a Monty Python movie, but not for a good sci fi story, and this is a good sci fi story. There looks to be a zero budget here, and that's good. We get a realistic look at "credible characters in incredible circumstances". There are really three characters, or maybe four, as you'll see for yourself, but I don't want to spoil it. It begins with a hippie looking couple, and later they meet a soldier who ate their dog. He didn't mean to do eat someone's pet. He was hunting in the woods and saw the dog in this apocalyptic world. The three become friends and work together to fend off "vandals". All three go through changes. The fourth character is something that involves the science fiction aspect, though perhaps it isn't so "science fiction". The characters aren't always likable, but they're never "unlikable". And they work together to survive in a credible way.