Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)

A flighty teenage girl 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 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 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, who knows very well the terrors that have arisen. Together, they combat the forces of the old and powerful vampire, Lothos, 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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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for comic vampire violence and drug references

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Buffy says one of her life's goals are to marry Christian Slater. In Joss Whedon's original script, the celebrity she wanted to marry was Charlie Sheen.

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Goofs

When Merrick takes Buffy to the graveyard he shows her Robert Berman's grave and says he was buried 3 days ago. Yet the grave already bears a carved tombstone which would not have been possible in such a short time.

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Quotes

Buffy: [Merrick has taken Buffy to the graveyard] D'you have any gum?

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Crazy Credits

Amilyn (Paul Reubens) revives to go through some more death throes.

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Alternate Versions

The German TV-version has got a few cuts to get a 'not under 12' rating.

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Connections

Referenced in Geeks Who Drink: John DiMaggio vs. David Giuntoli (2015)

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Soundtracks

Feelings
Music by Louis Gasté
Lyrics by Morris Albert
Performed by Kristy Swanson

User Reviews

Fairly Average Movie

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a fairly average movie from 1992. Little did I know when I watched it back in 1992 that it would spawn a TV series five years later.

Kristy Swanson did a great job as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Some of the other actors such as Donald Pleasance did a great job too but to be honest some of the young actors were so annoying and at times this movie had some bad scenes in it.

The movie would probably have benefited if it had been a bit longer. It seemed a bit too rushed when it came out. And I hate to be totally negative but the climax was anti-climatic if you know what I mean.

The film isn't totally bad-perhaps that was down to the combined talents of Swanson and Pleasance. If you're a fan of the TV series then I wouldn't recommend this as you might come away disappointed. If you've never seen the TV series then watch this next time you've got nothing to do.