Genre: Romance, Drama
Director: Sam Esmail
Cast: Justin Long, Emmy Rossum
Sam Esmail’s Comet is an unconventional romance that bends time and space to explore the fragility and intensity of love. Unlike traditional linear storytelling, the film fragments its narrative across parallel universes, memory, and fantasy, offering a kaleidoscopic view of one relationship. At its core is the on-and-off romance between Dell (Justin Long) and Kimberly (Emmy Rossum), who meet by chance during a meteor shower. What follows is not a straightforward love story, but rather a meditation on how passion, insecurity, and fate intertwine to shape human connection.
Justin Long delivers a deeply introspective performance as Dell, a man equal parts witty and neurotic, whose fear of vulnerability often sabotages his happiness. Opposite him, Emmy Rossum radiates charisma and complexity as Kimberly, a character who longs for love yet constantly questions its endurance. Together, their chemistry feels raw, playful, and sometimes painfully real — capturing both the exhilaration of falling in love and the sting of inevitable heartbreak.
Visually, Comet distinguishes itself with bold, dreamlike cinematography. Neon-lit skies, surreal landscapes, and shifting settings reflect the characters’ emotional turbulence. Esmail, who would go on to create Mr. Robot, demonstrates an early mastery of mood, using stylistic flourishes not just for beauty but as a mirror to the characters’ fractured perspectives on love. The non-linear structure challenges viewers to piece together the relationship’s trajectory, echoing the way we recall our own romances — never in order, but through moments of heightened joy, regret, and longing.
Thematically, the film wrestles with the idea that love can be both cosmic and fleeting. Its dialogue-heavy script brims with philosophical musings about chance, destiny, and whether love is worth the inevitable pain it brings. While some may find the structure disorienting or overly stylized, others will be drawn to its lyrical, almost poetic quality.
Comet is not a conventional romance, but that’s its strength. It dares to present love not as a straight path, but as an experience refracted through memory, fantasy, and possibility. For those who appreciate character-driven storytelling that challenges the boundaries of time and narrative, Comet lingers long after its final scene — much like the afterglow of a fleeting meteor across the night sky.
