Before the Cult TV Show, theBuffyMovie Proved How Fun Slaying Monsters Can Be

Buffy the Vampire Slayermay before long makea TV comebackwithSarah Michelle Gellar — and the cult - authoritative serial publication will always be the most beloved version of Buffy ’s story . But in 1992 , five years prior to fans becoming obsessed with Sunnydale and the Scoobies , a dissimilar version of Buffy ’s story hit the big screen . The same broad solidus are there ; the script is by ( now - disgraced)Buffyseries creator Joss Whedon , and it follows a chipper blond named Buffy saving the world from ogre . But it ’s got a flavor all its own , and it remains both a metre capsule of 1990s teen civilization as well as a surprisingly timeless story .

You already have sex from the perfectly descriptive title , butBuffy the Vampire Slayerhas more than a few elements of satire stuffed into its storytelling . It opens with a foreword limit during “ Europe : The Dark Ages ” that demonstrate the mythology we ’ll be working with here : throughout history , watchers train slayers uniquely equipped to combat the blood - sucking forces of iniquity — until the killer dies , and the next is choose , and the cognitive process start anew . A closing - up of the slayer ’s wooden stake cuts to a injection of a cheerleader rock her pom - pommy at a mellow - school basketball plot , andBuffy the Vampire Slayeris off . We probably do n’t need it , but it ’s amusing anyway to be inform that this is “ Southern California : The Lite Ages . ”

Whedon may have penned the screenplay , butBuffywas take by Fran Rubel Kuzui , and it ’s not punishing to imagine that having a char behind the camera helped inform the movie ’s approach to its fundamental character , as well as her friend grouping . When we first meet them , the girl ( Kristy Swanson as Buffy ; Michele Abrams as Jennifer ; Paris Vaughan as Nicki ; and a pre - fame Hilary Swank as Kimberly ) come across as trivial airhead , shopping together at the mall and using slang that still fits even a X afterValley Girl , a flick thatBuffytips its hat to in multiple ways .

“Puh-lease!"

“Puh-lease!“© 20th Century Studios

But we soon see there ’s a pitiless competitiveness skulk just below the surface ; their interaction are often catty to the point of being beggarly - spirited , and you’re able to sense early on on there ’s not much allegiance in this little tribe . That report becomes even more overt when Buffy meets Merrick ( Donald Sutherland ) , the watcher to her slayer — a man who could n’t be more out of seat in the Lite Ages , and who squelches his very reasonable doubts about Buffy being adequate to of fulfilling her destiny and devotes himself to helping her succeed .

Merrick has no option but to remain on his mission — it ’s his fate too , a fact we con in a heartbreaking speech that makes you happy Sutherland bless on for this one and bring all his gravitas along — and Buffy before long warm to his unusual man . The fact that her friends are toxic , her boyfriend is a gargantuan suspensor stereotype , and her parents could n’t be more checked - out ( “ Stay aside from the jag ” is how her dada bids farewell when they scamper off on their latest lam ) , think of that she ’s secretly grateful someone is taking her in earnest for once .

Buffy ’s self - actualization expands when she meet Pike ( Luke Perry , delightfully regorge against eccentric as a burnout at the height of his hunkyBeverly Hills , 90210fame ) , who puts aside his own motley feelings about Buffy once he gets to cognize her . ( That he find her unbelievable lamia - jeopardize reflex response only increase his admiration . ) In twist , Buffy place away her own initial judgment of Pike as a grimy loser , and realizes how refreshing it is to be noticedfor more than just her good feel . You want this queer couple — the popular cheerleader and the weirdo — to get together , but the movie does n’t rush into getting there . Their family relationship does cement itself after subverting two high - schoolhouse movie figure , however : a makeover sequence ( his ) , and a high - school dance ( hers , overrun by a pestilence of thirsty fang - firecracker ) .

Buffy Merrick

© 20th Century Studios

And speaking of vampires , Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s most campy delights come with Rutger Hauer as big bad Lothos , and Paul Reubens ( post - Pee - wee ’s Playhouse , andjustpost his tabloid - esthesis arrest ) as his fulsome underling . The bighearted problemBuffyhas are the plot holes environ its perplexing and underbaked traditional knowledge — Lothos gather the slayer and it ’s no big deal , but it ’s biz over if he learns her name ? Why does n’t he just shoot down her on his first chance rather than concord back because “ she is not ready”?—but if you do n’t think about it too much , it ’s prosperous enough to put those apart and simply enjoy the performances .

ThoughBuffy the Vampire Slayeris very much a product of 1992 — the fashions , the music , the lack of electric cell phones — it ’s a story that could fit into closely any decade . The TV show , which ran from 1997 - 2003 and is poise for a comeback over 20 years later , made that clear , but these are evergreen themes : an unconvincing Cuban sandwich who rises from an even more unlikely seat , a supernatural menace that only this choose one can beat . A uneven romance that works in spite of itself . A wise man and a student draft forte and noesis from each other .

While Swanson ’s political views have become more notable than her acting persona of late , and Perry , Reubens , Hauer , and Sutherland have all passed on , the main ingredient that makesBuffyfeel date are the faces you see pop music up in the smaller piece : Hilary Swank , already mentioned , laying down perfect bimbo insult ( “ Get out of my facial ! ” ) days before her Oscar wins . David Arquette ( pre - Scream ) is Pike ’s brother , Benny , who has a fishy panorama in which he come forth from a photo cubicle and all the pictures show up blank … because he ’s a vampire . Thomas Jane(The Expanse)is credit as “ Tom Janes ” in a minute part as Pike ’s mechanic friend . Stephen Root ( pre - News RadioandOffice Space ) bend his ungainly - hombre persona as Buffy ’s schooltime dealer . There are also cameos ( or nictitation - and - you’ll - miss - them appearance ) by Ben Affleck , Ricki Lake , Seth Green , Alexis Arquette , and in all likelihood more , frankly .

Buffy Couple

© 20th Century Studios

Plus , Buffyis still funny as hell — the descent are merry , as much as it makes a individual squinch to hat - tip Whedon , and the strong-arm funniness is still there too . Reubens ’ endless death panorama is one for the ages , and certainly nobody recognise in 1992 how ruefully humorous that “ new Republicans ” put-on that comes during the movie ’s closing - course credit bobbin would gain all the way in 2025 .

Buffy the Vampire Slayeris cyclosis on Prime Video . you could also stream theBuffy the Vampire Slayerseries on Disney+ .

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Buffy Reubens