Released in 1984 and having just celebrated its 37th anniversary, Thom Eberhardt’s endearing sci-fi/horror comedy Night of the Comet tells the story of Regina “Reggie” Belmont (Catherine Mary Stewart) and her sixteen-year-old sister Samantha (aka Sam), two young women who find themselves surviving a comet-induced extinction-level event only to run afoul of zombies created by that very same titular cosmic snowball. As played by Fast Times at Ridgemont High star Kelli Maroney, Sam is the movie’s standout – a gun-toting badass in a cheerleader costume who may or may not be turning into a zombie herself.
Joining Bloody Disgusting to look back on the film is Ms. Maroney, who discusses the film’s enduring popularity, her character’s relationship to another horror heroine, and how Sam’s iconic outfit recently found itself in jeopardy.
Bloody Disgusting: Night of the Comet is coming up on its 37th anniversary, and people still adore and talk about this movie to this day. What do you think accounts for its longevity?
Kelli Maroney: I always wonder about this, it’s been such a surprise. People say “It comforts me.” It’s about the two sister’s relationship; they never turned on each other, it’s not really about the zombies, and it has a happy ending. It’s about loss, and grieving, and about family sticking together. I mean, it sounds like a freaking Lifetime movie like that, but it’s what it is.
And I think it makes people feel good. There’s something very empowering about watching two girls get it together and not freak out too much, and take care of themselves. We want to believe that that’s what we would do. That’s what we would be able to do in the similar situation.
We all want to think that we’d be able to survive, you know? They don’t have a lot of ego, those girls. They’re Army brats who got sent to the San Fernando Valley and they’re stoic about stuff, and I think kids can relate to that. There’s abuse in their family, and I think people can relate to that. I mean nowadays, people would just be recorded and get arrested, but back in those days, it was very common to hear that parents hit [their children]. That was just the way it was.
So I think all those reasons. Also, I think it’s obvious when people are putting their heart into something. I think we all just cared so much about that movie. Not one person was phoning it in. We all were there a thousand percent, and I think people feel that, too.
One thing that I really liked that we didn’t think about it too much at the time, but the girls are so empowered. We don’t need to be rescued. I noticed that a lot of people that were fans of the movie when it came out when they were kids or teenagers or whatever, they’ll write – “I’m showing my daughter Night of the Comet tonight!” And I write back, “Oh! Let me know how it goes!” You know? It’s just, “I want my daughter to see young girls taking care of themselves.” That makes me feel proud.
So to be a role model, something that a parent wants to instill in their child and they’re using your work to do so is crazy rewarding. It doesn’t get any more rewarding than that.
BD: It’s been said that Sam – along with Ripley, Sarah Connor, A Little Princess and Jimmy Stewart – inspired the creation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. How does it feel to see your character not only surviving on for fans of Night of the Comet, but also in this other pop culture phenomenon with a considerable fanbase?
KM: WOW, it’s beyond so extremely cool. I remember when that movie came out, because I happened to be walking down Hollywood Boulevard and I saw the advertisement on the side of the bus. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I just went “Hey, that’s just like Samantha!” [laughs] I knew it right away. Joss Whedon has said a couple of times in interviews that she was the inspiration. But I’ve never met him or spoken to him.
Somebody was doing a biography of Joss Whedon and they asked if I’d do an interview. And I said, “Well, I’m not sure you really want to interview me because I’ve never met him and I’ve never spoken with him.” But they said it didn’t matter, it was okay. I suppose it’s that in his formative years, it meant something to him. Like I said, I’ve never spoken to him. Later on, I was asked to do a panel on “How to Build a Buffy” at a WhedonCon. That’s a big honor, to have that kind of influence on culture that goes for more than a decade. I mean, who gets to do that?
BD: You did a number of horror films in the mid-80s in quick succession, but I haven’t seen you referred to widely as a Scream Queen. Is that a title that you rejected, or would have embraced, or did you not really pay it any mind either way?
KM: In those days, horror was considered a career destroyer. I had agents that were begging me not to take those jobs. But, I’m not a trust fund kid, and I needed to work. Plus, this was pre-Internet. So, I thought, “No one will ever even see these!”. Yeah. How wrong can you be?
But I loved the people, and while it wasn’t great money, it was paying my rent and keeping me fed. And, you know, working on your craft is better than working at something else. You’re going to get better at it, no matter what. So I didn’t see anything wrong with it.
But it did sort of bite me in the butt. Because, unbeknownst to me back in those days, they’re not gonna see the lead of Chopping Mall in for an A-list movie. They just weren’t going to do it. I’d never thought about that. So, the nickname Scream Queen was really not helping me out at that time, right? [laughs] But I don’t really remember hearing it a lot, or “Final Girl”, or “Manic Pixie” – all those monikers really came in and were widely used later on than this period in the genre. And regarding Chopping Mall, I wouldn’t trade that credit for anything! People have been enjoying this movie for over three decades now. That’s saying something, I think. That’s pretty important to me.
It’s very fulfilling for me to know that my work lands with people, and that they enjoy it. The whole reason you do this, beyond that it’s entertainment, of course, is to communicate with and to connect with other people on an emotional level.
So, when I hear myself referred to as a “Scream Queen” occasionally, I realize that it’s meant in an affectionate and complimentary way. Since Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Jamie Lee Curtis, and so many great actors are included in that trope, what’s not to love?
BD: In going to conventions and appearing as the character again for photo ops, does that allow you to resurrect Sam a bit and live as her again while interacting with fans?
KM: Resurrecting her? I don’t think she ever died! People are coming to those shows because of our characters – in my case, Cindy or Alison or Kim or especially Samantha. I think that story especially and my ‘Sam” character mean something symbolically to people on a personal level.
She’s almost like an archetype. I’m sometimes referred to as a Scream Queen, but I’m ultimately the Final Girl. It’s a whole different thing.
Samantha and Reggie, I mean … recently, on a podcast, I think, a fan told us that he was bullied in school, and he said, “I just asked myself, ‘What would Sam and Reggie do?’ And I got through it because of you and Catherine.”
We looked at each other and said, “Well, we kind of do the same thing!” You take from your characters things that you learned, your courage, different skills, or values that you didn’t have, or weren’t aware that you had, before you played that part. So in that sense, yeah.
BD: Recently, Sam’s outfit found itself in a bit of jeopardy, ultimately landing with an owner who was asking a high price in order for you to get it back. Can you talk a bit about this, and the fans who responded to the situation with the GoFundMe to help you reclaim the costume?
KM: In a way, it’s one of the suckiest things that could’ve possibly happened. And in another way, it was one of the nicest and most inspiring things that could happened, to watch the fans rally around … it brings out the love in people, and you cannot ignore that.
This horrible thing happened that I had to deal with, but the great thing was this outpouring of concern and love and care. It was humbling, to say the least. I wasn’t going to disappoint those people and I sure wasn’t going to let them down.
You know, for me, I would rather be shot dead in the street than ask anybody for money. So it was very hard for me to do a GoFundMe, but I didn’t want anybody else doing it. I wanted to take responsibility for it. So I put my own name on there, you know?
It sucks for everybody. But what’s the alternative? It just brought the whole community closer together. What kind of genre can you say that people honestly care that much? It’s spectacular. It’s just a wonderful phenomenon that I can’t explain, but I’m really grateful and very humbled by this community and these genre fans. I love them. Whatever they want, they get, as far as I’m concerned. I have some goodies planned for all the people that donated and participated in rescuing the outfit.
BD: Any final words to leave our readers with regarding Night of the Comet?
KM: I always say “Thank you” for loving her as much as I do, and for caring about her. But it’s more than the movie or Sam. Like I said, it’s like an archetype we all share and support in each other. We rise up against adversity. We’re not victims. I think that’s what it really is, it’s a declaration of strength on the part of the fans, and the people who love this movie.
I must’ve done something great in my past life to have so many people be so great to me. I’m just really grateful. I’m really humbled. I can’t imagine having any other kind of life that would be better than my life. I can’t express the gratitude.
I just felt so protected. Horror fans are not to be dismissed and do NOT f–k with them! Sam stands up for everyone else, and as it turns out, they all stood up for me too. I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life and beyond, and I thank them, appreciate them, and love them with all my heart.
Special Thanks to Kelli Maroney for her time and insights.
