Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

Flighty teenage girl Buffy Summers learns that she is her generation's destined battler of vampires.

Director:

Fran Rubel Kuzui

Writer:

Joss Whedon

Stars:

Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kristy Swanson	...	Buffy
Donald Sutherland	...	Merrick
Paul Reubens	...	Amilyn
Rutger Hauer	...	Lothos
Luke Perry	...	Pike
Michele Abrams	...	Jennifer
Hilary Swank	...	Kimberly
Paris Vaughan	...	Nicole 'Nicki'
David Arquette	...	Benny
Randall Batinkoff	...	Jeffrey
Andrew Lowery	...	Andy
Sasha Jenson	...	Grueller
Stephen Root	...	Gary Murray
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Cassandra
Candy Clark	...	Buffy's Mom

Storyline

Buffy Summers (Kristy Swanson) has the lifestyle any young woman could want. Cheerleading, dating the Captain of the basketball team, and copious amounts of time spent shopping with friends. She had no idea of her true calling until a mysterious man named Merrick (Donald Sutherland) approached her and told her that she is the Slayer; one woman called to defend the world from vampires. Reluctant to concede to the fact, Buffy soon learns that Merrick speaks the truth and so begins to take her new life seriously while trying to maintain the sense of normality her life had once been. With her best friends slowly abandoning her, Buffy finds solace in the town outcast, Pike (Luke Perry), who knows very well the terrors that have arisen. Together, they combat the forces of the old and powerful vampire, Lothos (Rutger Hauer), who has his eyes set on Buffy.

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Plot Keywords:

mentor student relationship | destiny | high school | coming of age | teenage girl | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes it takes more than just good looks to kill.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

PA

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriter Joss Whedon was so frustrated by how much of his vision was being mishandled, and how much of it was being re-written, that he eventually left the set during production and never came back.

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Goofs

The prologue is set in the Dark Ages, (the centuries of barbarism which followed the collapse of the Roman Empire), and Merrick later confirms that this was before the Crusades. However, the costumes depicted are from the medieval period, which came many hundreds of years after the Dark Ages ended.

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Quotes

Amilyn: Will you be wagging that jaw of yours while I'm biting it off?
Pike: Are you addressing I?

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Crazy Credits

TV interviews with people who were at the dance attacked by vampires.

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Alternate Versions

The original theatrical release received a "12" rating in the UK without any cuts however, the video release was rated "15" with 11 seconds cut. The scene in which Lothos ignites Buffy's cross was removed and instead of immolating his head, she merely flees. At the time, the "12" rating did not cover video releases, only theatrical so it was rated "15" and the scenes in question may be imitated by younger viewers. In 2002, all previous cuts were waived and the video release was rated "15".

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Connections

Referenced in The Ralph Retort Killstream: Rekieta & Masterson Live, + StreamMe Sunsets Self: The Inside Story (2019)

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Soundtracks

Party with the Animals
Written by Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde and Rondy Castillio
Produced by Duane Baron and John Purdell
Performed by Ozzy Osbourne
Courtesy of Epic Associated Records

User Reviews

Not Oscar Material, but Very Smart

This is one of my favorite movies. It's full of extremely clever one-liners that I never get tired of. "Oh, yeah? Clap!" The main character acts like a brainless bimbo but, if you pay attention, the movie gives you subtle hints she's a lot smarter than she lets on. Acting brainless is a little social camouflage so she fits in with her airhead friends.

It's fun to watch everyone playing it way over the top: Rutger Hauer is the perfect creepy head vampire, Paul Reubens seems to relish his role as the main vampire henchman, and Donald Sutherland delivers yet another quirky performance in a career full of quirky performances.

Oh, and watch for a fairly obvious continuity error about, maybe, halfway through.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1992 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Bichette la terreur

Filming Locations:

Merry-Go-Round, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,515,541, 2 August 1992

Gross USA:

$16,624,456

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,624,456

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1