Buffy the Vampire Slayer Movie Review
"Eww! Gross!"
Yes, I know this movie is a comedy first and foremost, and has little, if any, actual horror in it, but it's not the first such movie I have reviewed here, and it has lots of vampires that don't sparkle, so I don't want to hear it.
Glitter-free since 1992
Honestly, there is a lot to like about this movie, and it starts with the cast. Swanson is gold as the titular character; Donald Sutherland shines as Buffy's trainer, Merrick; Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, The Hitcher) brings his usual bit of awesomeness as lead bad guy Lothos; and Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman) steals the show vampire Amilyn. The familiar faces don't end there--Luke Perry (Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood), David Arquette (Scream), Hilary Swank (The Reaping), Sasha Jenson (Dazed and Confused), Natasha Gregson Wagner (Urban Legend, High Fidelity), Stephen Root (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, practically every other movie and television show made in the past 30 years), and Thomas Jane (Deep Blue Sea) are all in this movie. Still not enough? Okay--Slash (the guitarist), Ricki Lake (Cry-Baby) Seth Green (Without a Paddle), and Ben Affleck (also Dazed and Confused) all pop in for uncredited roles.
"We, like, TOTALLY get it"
Most of the comedy in this movie is spot-on--there's not a ton of laughing hysterically moments, but plenty that will make you chuckle a bit. Hauer and Sutherland's characters look and act like they could have been transported directly from a Hammer film, so it certainly has a throwback feel that goes even further back than 1992. The movie is filled with tons of memorable scenes, none more so than the final time we see Amilyn.
"Ooooh! Ahhhhh!"
The story goes that writer Joss Whedon wanted the film to be darker than it turned out, and was so unhappy with the production he left it--this inspired him to create the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show a few years later. I'm not sure what he was going for there, but I wouldn't go so far as to call that show dark in any way--or as good as this movie in any way. The movie is a ton of fun to watch, and other than having an ending that feels rushed, I have no real complaints about it--it did everything it could while staying within the restraints of a PG-13 horror comedy. Oh yeah, stick around for the credits too, as we get some in-credits bonus scenes.
On A Scale Of One To Ten: 7
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Movie Trailer
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