Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) by Duncan K — 23 Jun 2013

It's unbelievable that Hilary Swank who once starred in such a crap film where her character is a vain and stereotypical teenage girl would go on to be the recipient of two Academy Awards. It's unbelievable anybody would, because Fran Rubel Kuzui's adaptation of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is too obsessed with vanity and the teenage image to find a balance between the teenage theme and the vampiric horror of the story, and so Joss Whedon's idea is turned into a mere 80's teenage comedy that's bereft of laughs, so is unsuccessful at even failing to live up to Joss Whedon's vision.

Once of the main problems is the fact that the rate the consistency develops at is irregular so by the point where it has a decent consistency, the movie is already halfway through which doesn't prepare a lot of time for any quintessential climax to develop from smart dynamics or worthwhile characters, and so Buffy the Vampire Slayer just proves not to be a film with any kind if heart whatsoever or any real entertainment. It just isn't compelling, thrilling or fun whatsoever, and so it can't pass as a film I could recommend at all, especially since the makers disgraced the vision of mastermind Joss Whedon with such a boring vanity project.

Although, Kristy Swanson is right for the part. She's no Sarah Michelle Gellar, but in terms of the way she portrays a cocky teenager as well as a determined and athletic vampire slayer is good. Her physicality is great since she captures the right physical mannerisms of a teenager girl, a cheerleader and fighter. And despite not being presented with a strong story, she works her hardest and gives a good performance in the end.

Donald Sutherland gives a routine performance, pretty much only utilising his name to make the film bankable and he doesn't present any spectacular charms, but his performance was decent. Similarly, Rutger Hauer does the same and his villainous role is also good.

And a young Hilary Swank also plays her teenage character very well, even though it doesn't seem like her to people who have witnessed her Academy Award winning roles in Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby. It fascinating to see her career develop since this.

And the film has fine technicals to it, namely the fact that the cinematography is good and the lighting makes everything easily visible even during the darker times of the story.

And Joss Whedon's screenplay is well written despite suffering from being mistreated by the filmmakers.

So Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn't the worst film, but it doesn't have the credibility of the TV series of the same name because it was taken in a different direction to what Joss Whedon intended.