Night of the Comet-review

Young Sarah Palin?

            The 1984 movie “Night of the Comet” is that sort of good humor horror movie that has all the makings for a great cult classic.  Much like the movie “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” it’s got a unique charm and pretty fun characters that you grow to enjoy during the silly plot lines.  Movies like these are so tongue in cheek they produce campy followings. Some I totally dig like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Cannibal: the Musical” others I get the idea but just aren’t my thing (like “Killer Klowns from Outer Space”).

Oh sure. This girl is really a teenager.

            The story begins when Reggie Belmont, played by the lovely Catherine Mary Stewart, is working late with her boyfriend.  First off, I have to comment they made this girl a teen geeks dream.  Not only is pretty but she works at a movie theater and she plays video games and clearly has a working knowledge of Superman’s power range. Set phasers to thrill! So she stays with her boyfriend during the night that a large comet is approaching Earth.  People are celebrating its arrival like it’s New Year’s Eve.

Brains,and spare change please!

            When she wakes up she finds that the majority of the people in Southern California have been turned into red dust.  The sky has gone a dark red color.  A few people have even become fairly intelligent zombies.  She meets up with her cheerleader sister, Sam, and they try to find survivors. I will try not to give the rest away.  There are a lot of interesting elements that seem reminiscent of other movies of post apocalyptic fiction.  Mostly “The Day of the Triffids” and “Dawn of the Dead,” but the references are so glancing that it seems more like an homage.

This movie is so 80s it would do coke and vote for Reagan if it could.

            “Night of the Comet” is a funny movie for what it is.  It’s not particularly scary and it’s very corny but it’s got the charm and wit that people want from the cult classics.  If you are in the mood for something a bit off the wall give a try.  It is one that you might enjoy.  If anything you’ll laugh at the fun 1980s fashion.