Whether for positive or negative news, Joss Whedon has been the topic of headlines for years. As the director of The Avengers, the already famous name gained an even larger resonance with audiences. But before The Avengers assembled, Whedon lent his storytelling to another kind of story that leaned more into the supernatural than action adventure. From that basis, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was born.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer started as a film released in 1992 and followed an unassuming teenager named Buffy who learned she had the skills to slay invading Vampires. However, her true power lies in her persistence to do what's right and show that female characters are more than damsels and could be just as crucial in saving lives as any male hero. But according to an interview with Whedon, Buffy was influenced by a little-known film that featured its own brand of female heroines.

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What Is Night of the Comet About?

Night of the Comet was a comedy/horror film where some lucky teenagers had to survive a deadly apocalypse. Following the deaths of billions following a comet passing over Earth, a young girl named Reggie was forced to live on a planet of red skies with her sister. But aside from dealing with dangerous scientists, they also had to survive against zombified survivors exposed to the comet's effects.

Rather than turning to red dust, their deaths were slower, making them terrifying enemies for Reggie and her sister. Nevertheless, Reggie did so with the perfect blend of action and cleverness. But there was also room for the teenagers to enjoy a world with no adults, so there was a well-paced blend of light-heartedness to break up the bleakness. What resulted was a film that captured the creativity and fun of the '80s while balancing terror and camp with a story no one expected.

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How Night of the Comet Influenced Buffy

kristy swanson stakes paul reuben in buffy the vampire slayer movie

According to Whedon, Night of the Comet impacted Buffy's larger story. He noted how the movie actually had a cheerleader as a prominent character, but that didn't define her. Like Buffy, her extracurricular activities only mirrored an aspect of the character's personality and were by no means a basis that defined her. However, Whedon also mentioned how, unlike other films of the '80s with a campy premise, Night of the Comet had a title that would reel viewers in. The mystery of what it was created something special that still ignites curiosity.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a title that explained exactly what audiences would get themselves into. But in doing so, it raised the mystery of what the story could entail. And then, once viewers saw how layered and fun Buffy was, it became easier to get hooked. So, while Night of the Comet had no vampires, it showed the power a female lead could have in a story with a fun and strong premise.