1984’s “Night of the Comet” begins in a movie theater, and what better place to start a film about the end of the world?
18-year-old Reggie (Catherine Mary Stewart) and her younger sister Sam (Kelli Maroney) are living the good life in southern California. Reggie works as an usher in a movie theater and is addicted to the video game “Tempest,” while Sam is a cheerleader who loves watching too much TV. With their dad away on active military duty, both girls are at odds with their stepmother Doris (played by Sharon Farrell), a “Stepford Wife” type who is a little too cozy with the guy who lives next door.
Fun Elements and Set-up for a Sci-Fi Film
All the parental angst becomes moot after a comet passes the Earth; the radiation in the comet’s tail turns most of Earth’s population to dust. The only ones saved are anyone protected inside a solid metal structure. Other unprotected people on Earth don’t immediately turn to dust, but instead decompose more slowly, turning into rabid zombie-like monsters that attack on sight.
Reggie and Sam are fine, having both been inside metal structures when the comet flew by (yep, it’s a bit too convenient, but who cares?). They soon realize the world’s gone to hell, and that’s where the fun starts. Both girls, who were trained in martial arts and firearms by their military father, easily survive the dangers of this new world (including having a harrowing showdown with a “zombie”). And like true valley girls of the 1980s, they party too, firing Uzis at cars (at one point Sam opines, “Daddy would have given us better guns”) and hitting the local mall for a long shopping spree (no charge card needed).
‘Night of the Comet’ is a super entertaining rollercoaster ride of a film…”
Female Led Action—Revolutionary for the ’80s
What I loved most about the film is that Reggie and Sam feel genuine and real. These aren’t Ellen Ripley-style females, all grit and sinew, barking orders and kicking ass. These girls are doing the best they can in a tough situation, trying to find their way, and at some points in the film, they find themselves longing for the lives they once had. Sam in particular has a touching scene, where she laments the friends she lost.
Poster art for “Night of the Comet.”
The film introduces Hector (Robert Beltran); he’s a tough but compassionate guy who also survived the comet, and helps the girls out with guns blazing. However, the girls still control the action, and for 1984, that was practically revolutionary. You can see how characters such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer have direct ties to Reggie and Sam.
The film mixes horror and humor perfectly. There are some horrific scenes throughout the film, involving both zombie and non-zombie characters, and the token scientists that always appear in films like this and have their own twisted agenda, bickering amongst themselves and willing to do anything for a cure to the “comet incident.”
A Super Entertaining Film with Hilarious Moments
Scientist Audrey (played by the always amazing Mary Woronov of “Death Race 2000,” “Rock N’ Roll High School,” and so many other great films) is especially fascinating. There’s a sense of doom over her and a sense that she gave up on life even before the “comet incident” happened. Her story arc takes a surprising turn in the last few minutes of the film.
“Night of the Comet” is a super entertaining rollercoaster ride of a film, with horror, hilarious moments, and great action. The two female leads, despite the fact they label themselves valley girls, are written with depth and sincerity, which was a very rare thing in movies of that time but thankfully is getting better these days.
“Night of the Comet” is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon.
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