Review of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) by Caleb M — 23 Nov 2009

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has the production values of a 90s TV-movie, a cast that ranges from great (Donald Sutherland, phoning in but still halfway decent), awesome (Rutger Hauer, amazingly campy here), and awful (Luke Perry and Paul Ruebens). Still, Kirsty Swanson is a peach and makes Buffy a tolerable heroine. I would have preferred a more dramatic change in her, but Joss Wedon's script seems to take her valley-girl upbringing for granted and we never really get a fun sense of the clash she must feel going from shopping all day to training to slay vampires. Still, the film is fun light entertainment with some good dated camp and lame 90s pop. I can see SO much potential here, and even though I've never watched Wedon's re-vamped television version, I'm sure the vision in my head is completely different (maybe a remake of this is warranted someday?).

Well, like I said; Buffy is silly, campy, so-bad-it's-good entertainment. Fans of the show should get a kick out of it. Also check out Ben Affleck in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role.