Arrow films were nice enough to furnish me with a BD of
their forthcoming release of “Night of the Comet”, which is being released in a
BD/DVD combo pack this month.
Borrowing a few ideas from the sci-fi films of the 1950s,
“Night of the Comet” stars prolific 80s comedy actress Catherine Mary Stewart (“Weekend
at Bernies”, “Last Starfighter” and “Adventures in Babysitting” to name but a
few) as 18 year old Regina, who’s stuck in her dead end job, working at the
local cinema, whilst the rest of the world is out waiting for the spectacular
light show from a passing comet.
Falling asleep in the projection booth with her boyfriend,
they wake up at the end of the screening to find everyone has already left, the
comet has passed and there’s nothing outside but piles of dust everywhere…
Yes it seems that radiation from the comet has had an
adverse effect on earths population, turning most of them into dust and the
others into blood thirsty ghouls, as her boyfriend finds out when he steps
outside to see whats happening. Only a handful of “ordinary” folk still remain,
who were shielded from the comets rays somehow.
Fortunately, Regi’s sister Samantha (Kelli Maroney –
"Chopping Mall") happens to be one of them, and together with fellow survivor
Hector (played by a pre-Star Trek Robert Beltran) the group try to look for
other survivors, whilst dodging the zombies and groups of villainous government
soldiers, who are looking to capture fellow survivors for their own nefarious
ends…
Filmed back in 1984, the film was, I believe, inspired by
the arrival of Halley’s Comet, which was due to pass by the earth in 1986 and
is very much one for lovers of campy sci-fi, b-movie comedies, being a campy
homage to the sci-fi disaster films of the 50s.
I remember reviewing the previous UK DVD
release of this by Studio Canal
back in 2010 and was very disappointed to find it was completely devoid of
extras. So I was delighted to see that Arrow had done their usual sterling job
of providing plenty of special features for this release.
The case includes both Blu Ray and DVD
releases of the film, both of which contain the following extras…
3x Audio commentary tracks. The first with writer/director
Thom Eberhardt. The second with stars Kelli Maroney and Catherine Mary Stewart
and the third with production designer John Muto
4x Interview features. Valley Girls at the End of the World,
with Kelli Maroney and Catherine Mary Stewart.
The Last Man on Earth, with actor
Robert Beltran. End of the World Blues with co-star Star Mary Woronov and Curse
of the Comet, with special make-up effects creator David B. Miller
Also included is the Original Theatrical Trailer and the
case contains a Collector’s booklet, featuring new writing on the film by James
Oliver illustrated with original archive stills and posters and the sleeve has
reversible artwork, containing the original theatrical poster art and newly
commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin.
The film is released in the UK September 22nd