Night of the Comet (1984): Neon Skies and Valley Icons

ByFabian Bullitt

1984 • Thom Eberhardt • 1.85:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

The post-apocalyptic teen comedy is a highly distinctive subgenre, the aesthetic of which is perfectly captured in this gallery of screenshots from Night of the Comet. Directed by Thom Eberhardt, the film follows two ‘Valley Girls’ who survive a cosmic catastrophe that turns most of humanity into dust or zombies. A pure, unadulterated vision of the 1980s end of the world, complete with shopping montages, high-waisted fashion, and mutants.
Visually, the film is defined by its surreal, red-tinted skies, which make the desolate streets of Los Angeles look beautiful. The contrast between these exterior shots and the heavy shadows of the dark interiors highlights the film’s horror elements. Much like the hairstyles and outfits of Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney, the cinematography is a distinctive signifier of the decade. The film is undoubtedly of its time.
A large part of the film’s charm lies in these visual contrasts. By placing unlikely heroines in such a gritty sci-fi landscape, the film creates a unique iconography: Valley girls with guns kicking monster ass, years before the ‘Buffy’ aesthetic popularised the imagery.

Technical Specs:

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