Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Before the series, there was Buffy starring Kristy Swanson as the titular Valley Girl who fights vampires between cheer-leading and visits to the mall. Directed by Joss Whedon, it already has some of the action and comic beats that made the show enjoyable. It doesn't have the polish, the fiery finish of the undead or some of the beloved heroic characters or influence by Ash and the Evil Dead franchise, but it is an interesting beginning. Bring the garlic and the stakes.

Erik M.

6.9/10. A pretty decent movie that doesn't get enough love. Kristy Swanson was excellent in it.

Rob245

Ah... the movie that started it all.

Buffy is just your ordinary 90's valley-girl... vain, vapid and completely self-absorbed. However, her world is turned upside-down when she discovers she is the "Slayer" - a chosen one born once every generation, destined to do battle with demons, vampires and the forces of darkness.

I'll admit 1992's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" does supply some kitschy laughs and has a likable cast. There are some fleeting flashes of genius in the writing and a number of jokes do land well. And Paul Reubens is especially memorable in a supporting role as one of the vampire adversaries.

However, there's a reason this movie has been more-or-less forgotten while the television show that followed remains a beloved cult-hit. And it mainly comes down to the execution. The movie has a lot of great ideas, and you get a sense of what creator Joss Whedon was going for - but the direction, the editing, the tone, the humor... it's all over the place and feels very unfocused. Director Fran Rubel Kuzui, along with many of the others involved, just don't seem to understand the appeal of the material. There have been plenty of horror stories about how the film was being re-written on-set, and how much it deviated from Whedon's intentions... and you can definitely tell watching it. It's a very messy movie.

Thanks to its cast and a few effective moments, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" does have some minor value, even though it is a bad film from an objective standpoint. I could definitely see it being a guilty pleasure for certain audiences. Especially those who grew up in the 90's. Just go in knowing it's not very good.

I'm giving it a sub-par (but still watchable) 2 out of 5.

TedStixon