Night of the Comet
Directed by Thom Eberhardt
Released: 1984
Starring: Kelli Maroney, Catherine Mary Stewart, Robert Beltran, and Sharon Farrell
Running time: 95 minutes
Reviewed by Eric Grubbs

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When a comet wipes out most of the earth’s human beings, what are the few survivors to do? Moreover, who are the survivors, and why did they survive? ’84’s Night of the Comet tackles the effects rather than trying to understand why the earth’s population was reduced to only a few. And the few who are undead zombies are not the worst threat.

Described as a cross between Valley Girl and various last-people-on-earth films, Night of the Comet is a pretty decent blend of desolation, isolation, survival, and, surprisingly, humor. Sisters Samantha and Regina try to survive on their own until they are taken in by scientists who have their own plans. By the end of the film, one could wonder if the fate of the human race rests with the scientists or our reluctant protagonists.

Despite its B-movie production value and aesthetic, the acting is respectable, especially by Mary Woronov (yes, Miss Togar from Rock ‘N’ Roll High School). Long before digital technology could make London look like a ghost town in 28 Days Later, Night of the Comet’s landscape shots look believable. But it’s the drama between the characters that makes the film come together. And it works, as an enjoyable movie clearly from the ’80s.