Night of the Comet Review

So I‘ve decided  I need to watch more 80’s horror films since there is an abundance of them that I have never seen. So with help of Netflix streaming they managed to put a lot of horror films on there. Some are horrible but there are a number of hidden gems and other must sees.


I don’t remember where I first read about Night of the Comet but it didn’t originally struck me as something I needed to watch immediately. I had put it off for a while. I do have a tendency to stray away from 80’s horror films because they reach that point of campy that I can’t get past. Its too much for me and its not enjoyable enough to want to watch it. I feel like I’m not the only like that. Also, the horrible horrible acting just distracts from any emotional investment. I know this is a hard thing to be picky about with horror films but the acting needs to be at least semi-decent. So in case you’re  like me and these things are distracting Night of the Comet  should be okay with you.

PLOT SUMMARY:

The story centers around sisters Regina and Samantha. The whole world is out to celebrate a comet that will be passing by the earth and cause a spectacle in the skies. Most people of course are out in the streets throwing parties. Other people think there is too much of a coincidence that the last time the comet passed earth was shortly before the dinosaurs went extinct. Turns out they were right to be worried. Almost everyone on earth is instantly turned to dust. Our main characters were luckily not outside when the comet passed so they survived it. Regina who spent the night at the movie theater she works at heads home.




They quickly realize whats happened and after Regina is attacked by a zombie they figure out that not everyone has been turned to dust some have just been zombified. Regina and Samantha use a radio station to try and find other survivors. This is where they run into Hector. They make a plan, they are supposed to stay put while he heads to find his parents.


They of course don’t stay put and in a post-apocalyptic cliche they head to a department store to take what they want. That's where they get into a shoot out with thugs and eventually are saved by a group of survivors that are stationed in a bunker not far from the city. They promise to take them to the bunker with other survivors. That's where they learn that its a plague in the air that is causing the survivors to slowly turn into zombies.


**SPOILERS**
Regina escapes from the bunker when she realizes they have no intention of really helping them and with the help of Hector and Samantha bust out and save some of the children that are being kept there. They live happily ever after in a post-apocalyptic city.



The good points about the movie is that as I said earlier is that it doesn’t get too campy. A movie that I would consider real campy is Return of the Living Dead. Its nowhere near that level. The acting is pretty good. Of course with a lot of 80’s horror films there is a underlying idea of consumerism. I mean look at the damn poster they have shopping bags and guns.


 The whole idea that Regina and Samantha would give up the safety of the radio station to go shopping speaks volumes about their priorities. Most people would argue they are using it as a coping mechanism. There different things they could do that wouldn’t compromise themselves so much.Along with that you can get the over-consumerism 80’s idea from the fact that when they do go to the store they run into other survivors that have taken it as their own. 


Similar to the idea in Dawn of the Dead that the zombies swarm the mall because that's just habitual for people to go to the stores. So these people have declared everything in the store theirs and will defend their stuff with their lives. You could argue they’re more so defending the space than the stuff but its not that secure of a place with too many weak points that would need to be fortified. Strategically it doesn’t make too much sense.


Overall the movie is done well with some tense moments. My biggest complaint about the film is that is probably like 10-15 minutes too long. It’s drawn out and the call-back in the last shot of the film is fun and probably the best way to end it.


Have any of you seen it? You’re thoughts on it? How would you change the film in order  o make it better?


My next review will be Tobe Hooper’s The Funhouse. Watch it now so you can get in on the discussion. It is available on Netflix streaming.