Written and Directed by: Thom Eberhardt
Starring: Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney, Robert Beltran, Sharon Farrell, Mary Woronov, Geoffrey Lewis, Peter Fox
Country: USA
Running Time: 95 min
Year: 1984
BBFC Certificate: 15
It’s eleven days before Christmas and the whole world turns out to watch as the planet passes through the tail of a comet, an event not witnessed since the extinction of the dinosaurs. When sisters Regina (Stewart) and Sam (Maroney) wake up the next day they find an empty world, their friends and family reduced to red dust around them. Contending with mutant zombies and a secret underground government laboratory, Regina and Sam decide to do the only thing a pair of teenage girls would do with their new found freedom – party!
Night of the Comet is one of those films that always seemed to pass me by over the years. It probably doesn’t help that I seemed to frequently get it mixed up with Fred Dekker’s similarly alien themed zombie movie, Night of the Creeps, but finally watching the movie on this brand new 88 Films remaster, I can see why this is often a highly recommended cult flick.
For starters, this is probably one of the most 80’s movies you’ll ever watch! From the party vibes coming from valley girls Regina and Sam, to the shopping mall that most of the middle of the film takes place in, Night of the Comet is a snapshot of America in the mid 80’s that you only really find in a specific type of cult movie from the era (see also the brilliantly fun Chopping Mall, also starring Kelli Maroney and Mary Woronov). But Night of the Comet is also a film that very much wears its cult influences on its sleeve, from the John Hughes like teen drama that was popular in the era, to the mix of Romero esque zombie action to the almost Andromeda Strain like sci-fi, it’s a story that gleefully skips around its genres with abandon.
It’s absolutely a lower budget affair, coming in at an estimated $700,000, but writer/director Thom Eberhardt makes great use of that budget. This is a handsome looking film that makes great use of its locations, from the opening shots of celebrations in Times Square as the comet approaches Earth, to the starkness of the abandoned city in a haunting red glowed morning. The red glow is itself a subtle and effective touch for external scenes, showing the dust that the comet left in the atmosphere as it passed, and it gives these scenes a very otherworldly vibe. Audio production is also great, exemplified in particular with the early scenes as Regina explores the almost empty city, the silence punctuated by bursts of sound such as audio from an abandoned car radio or the sound of early morning sprinklers kicking in. This is underscored with David Campbell’s synth rock score.
Night of the Comet is a story that has a great sense of humour as well, with excellent performances from Stewart and Maroney in the leads as sisters Regina and Sam, one capable and one outwardly confident but really needing the support of her sister while Star Trek Voyager’s Robert Beltran turns in a solid performance as Hector, a truck driver who joins up with the sisters. The fun vibe is never taken too far, though, and the script manages to layer in a good sense of dread as the world goes to hell. It feels like there’s a line to draw between this and 28 days later, particularly as our survivors start to discover their world has been irreversibly changed, their loved ones either vaporised or changed into comet zombies. A moment of Hector returning to his family home to find it empty is a quietly sad moment. This is only amplified as our heroes find more survivors and, more importantly, the scientists (led by Mary Woronov and Geoffrey Lewis) whose motivations to find a cure may not be as philanthropic as they initially seem.
If I could level one criticism at the film it’s that the mish-mash of genres can, at times, become a little uneven. The back third of the film, in particular, does lose a bit of the focus from the first couple of acts and some of the plot threads never really go anywhere which is a shame. These criticisms aside, however, Night of the Comet is a thoroughly entertaining and campy sci-fi horror movie that deserves a watch from any discerning genre fan.
BONUS FEATURES
- 4K remaster from the original camera negatives presented In Ultra High Definition (2160p) in 1.85:1 aspect ratio
- Presented in Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR10 Compatible)
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray in 1.85:1 aspect ratio also included
- 5.1 surround DTS-HD master audio soundtrack
- 2.0 LPCM original soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles
- Audio commentary by critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan
- Trailer
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve
This new 4K transfer from 88 Films looks and sounds gorgeous, with a crisp and colourful image accompanying a bright and clear audio mix. It’s a great way to watch the film which also comes with a Blu-Ray included in a lovely limited edition hardcover slipcase. Sadly the bonus features are rather sparse, however, missing many of the commentaries and interviews from the previous 2014 Arrow Video release, meaning that fans will perhaps want to consider whether the new transfer is worth the double dip.