“Since before recorded time, it had swung through the universe in an elliptical orbit so large that its very existence remained a secret of time and space. But now, in the last few years of the twentieth-century, the visitor was returning. The citizens of Earth would get an extra Christmas present this year, as their planet orbited through the tail of the comet. Scientists predicted a light show of stellar proportions. Something not seen on Earth for 65 million years. Indeed, not since the time that the dinosaurs disappeared, virtually overnight.”

After the tail of a passing comet has turned everyone directly exposed to its radiation into red carbon dust, two teenage sisters awake the following morning to discover that they are two of the last people on Earth. In addition, those who were inside, and therefore not directly exposed, are disintegrating slower, becoming flesh-eating zombies in the process.

The girls travel to a local radio station where they meet another survivor, Hector, a truck driver who was lured to the station, like them, in the belief that the transmission was live. It isn’t, but the girls use the station in an attempt to attract help.They attract the attention of a group of scientists, who, realising that the last time the comet passed Earth, the dinosaurs disappeared, had locked themselves away in their underground facility until it passed.

Hector leaves the girls to fend for themselves while he goes back home to see if any of his family have survived the comet. But can they survive in the zombie infested world until he returns?

Runtime: 94 min 51 sec – the running time of this film was calculated from the measured length of 8538+5 (feet + frames) [5 reels].
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color
Sound Mix: Stereo
Format: 35mm
Budget: Director Thom Eberhardt quotes approx $700,000; the IMDB quotes $3,000,000 (estimated) – by comparrison, The Terminator (also released in 1984) had a budget of $6,400,000.
Distributor: Atlantic Releasing Corp
US Theatrical Release: 16 November, 1984
UK Theatrical Release: 8 May, 1985

Alternative Titles

Der Komet – Der Tod kommt aus dem All – West Germany (The Comet – Death from the Universe)
Der Komet – Germany
La Notte Della Cometa – Italy
La Nuit De La Comète – France
La Noche Del Cometa – Spain
Noc Komety – Poland
ноча кометы – Russia
A Noite do Cometa – Portugal
Tuhon yö – Finland
ナイト・オブ・ザ・コメット – Japan
慧星之夜 – China
Noaptea Cometei – Romania
Noc Kometa – Yugoslavia
天降凶靈 – Hong Kong

Taglines

1: The last time this comet came the dinosaurs disappeared. [VHS]
2: It was the last thing on earth they ever expected. [Soundtrack, Posters & VHS]
3: They came, they shopped, they saved the world. [DVD, 2007]

Certification

Germany: 16 / Iceland: 12 / Finland: 15 (previously K-16)/ UK: 15 / USA: PG-13 / Canada: 13+ (Quebec) / Canada: AA (Ontario) / Spain 13+ / Australia: M

CANADA [AA]

28 September 1984 (Ontario)
Classified AA (Adult Accompaniment) by the Ontario Film Review Board for Coarse Language and Frightening Scenes
Distributer: Norstar Releasing
16 January 1985 (Quebec)
Classified 13+ by the Régie du cinéma
28 June 1990 (Ontario)
Classified AA (Adult Accompaniment) by the Ontario Film Review Board for Coarse Language and Frightening Scenes
Distributer: CBS/Fox Video Ltd

UK [15]

8 May 1985
Classified 15 for theatrical release by the BBFC with no cuts made
Distributer: Entertainment Film Dists Ltd
1 September 1985
Classified 15 for video release by the BBFC with no cuts made
Distributer: CBS/Fox Video Ltd
22 January 2010
Classified 15 for DVD release by the BBFC with no cuts made
Distributer: Optimum Releasing

FINLAND [15] – Tuhon yö

12 December 1988
Classified K-16 (now 15) for video release by ELONET
Distributer: Showtime Networks Inc. – videolevitys

SPAIN [13+] – LA NOCHE DEL COMETA

31 May 1985
Classified 13+ for video release by Minesterio Del Cultura
Distributer: PARAISO FILMS S.A.

US Box Office

Total Gross: $14,418,922 (4 January 1985, 1 screen)
Opening Weekend: $3,580,578 (18 November 1984)
(1,098 theaters, $3,261 average)
% of Total Gross: 24.8%
Widest Release: 1,098 theaters
In Release: 42 days / 6 weeks
Highest Chart Position: #3 (1st week)
(sources boxofficemojo.com, the-numbers.com )

Spanish Box Office

Viewing Figures: 72,066
Gross: 109.567,12 €
(source Minesterio Del Cultura)

Awards

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films USA
Mary Woronov nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress 1985.

http://www.nightofthecomet.info/images/locations/elrey_sign.jpg