Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) by Eric C — 21 Jul 2011

This film is one of those nostalgia flicks. Especially for those who began watching the more serious TV series, this definitely pales in comparison as you get older. Its not a bad film, but the work done on the film is certainly not as good as it could have been. You have poor special effects, there is a scene where a vampire jumps out of a grave and you can see he is being lifted up by wires.

The acting is ehh what you can expect, but it shouldn't be from veteran actors, such as Donald Sutherland and Rutger Haur. Kristy Swanson has played in a couple decent roles in the past and at 2 in the future of this film, but she certainly summed up how blondes and California women were viewed at the time. Luke Perry is seen here mainly to make the girls scream, this was in the height of his popularity during the Beverly Hills 90210 days, so you can clearly see how his character really has no reason to be in the film, he doesn't move the plot along and just seems to get in the way. The novels and Season 8 of Buff furthers the character a bit, but this was a somewhat waste of screen time. We also get a couple early roles by Hilary Swank and David Arquette, which are fun.

I really did enjoy the film's soundtrack, featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Halford(with Pantera) and The Divinyls to name a few. It helped to keep the movie going hearing these tunes. I am really glad that 20th Century Fox and Joss Whedon collaborated again to give us the TV series cause it helps to apologize for this film. The TV series acts as a sequel of sort, but certain elements present in the film are somewhat remade, so many don't count this as canon. I would go see this as a way to see how far this franchise has become. I hope with a new film coming out that it helps to further rectify this movie. Also look for Paul Reubens as the main vampire henchmen...BEWARE THE LAME DIALOGUE TOO.