Movie Review: Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992)

Genre: Monster Horror Comedy  

Director: Fran Rubel Kuzui  

Starring: Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, Luke Perry, Hilary Swank, Paul Reubens  

Running Time: 86 minutes  

Synopsis: In Los Angeles, popular cheerleader Buffy (Kristy Swanson) is enjoying a typical teenager's life when she is approached by the mysterious Merrick (Donald Sutherland). He informs her that she is the Chosen One, the latest in a series of heroines with unique abilities to kill evil vampires threatening to conquer Earth. After a period of intense training Buffy starts tangling with vampires led by Lothos (Rutger Hauer) and his sidekick Amilyn (Paul Reubens), while at the same time falling in love with fellow student Pike (Luke Perry).

What Works Well: This anthem to female empowerment benefits from a wicked sense of humour and a steady stream of quotable zingers courtesy of a whip smart Joss Whedon script. The action is buoyed by a bloodless determination to not take anything seriously; acceptance that vampires can mix with teens in Los Angeles; and the natural conclusion that a cheerleader can become a cold-eyed slayer. Underneath it all is a message that girls are more than capable of rising above frivolities and confronting the real challenges of a big bad world. Kristy Swanson bring plenty of zest to the title role, Donald Sutherland anchors the one solemn character, and Paul Reubens finds immortality in an epic to-die-for scene.

What Does Not Work As Well: The limited budget is evident in the short running time, clunky set-pieces, and a lack of courage to venture into coherent universe-building or thematic complexities. One casualty is Rutger Hauer, who is wasted as a superficial villain-in-chief.

Key Quote:

Pike: You know Buffy, you're not like other girls. 

Buffy: Yes I am.

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