Throughout the film there are multiple panoramas of the landscape surrounding Mr. Hamrar’s house and property. There is no sign of any civilization in sight - no lights, no smoke, and no people. The closest thing to civilization throughout the movie is the man who delivers the groceries, and the voice of Mr. Hamrar’s daughter on the phone. He has purposely separated himself from society, removing himself so he doesn’t have to have a schedule, or a job, or put up with people judging how he does things. At the beginning of the film the audience is lead to believe that the elderly couple is isolated simply because they don’t want to be bothered because anything that society could offer them they can do for themselves. But as the film continues,
