Kevin Lazzari | Special to the Fitzhugh
I think only Joss Whedon could have come up with the title to one of the cheesiest vampire movies ever made.
The star is named Buffy and she could easily be the lead in another movie called, Valley Girls. Kristy Swanson is a high school student by day and vampire slayer by night.
Whedon’s original script was not intended to be so campy, but Hollywood thought 1992 was the year that the public masses needed a horror action comedy.
I think the cast had a lot to do with the movie being so zany. Anytime you have Paul Rubenfeld in a movie you know the movie is going to be slightly bizarre. Rubenfeld is famous for being Pee-wee Herman and to cast him as a vampire had me intrigued. He played the part of the psychotic vampire perfectly only to be overshadowed by Swanson.
Donald Sutherland tried to steal the show but the rest of the cast had different ideas and Sutherland never really did shine. Luke Perry’s performance was his first break out role in a major movie production and it is amazing his career was not ruined by just being in a movie called, Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
It was no surprise David Arquette was cast because the movie was definitely in his wheelhouse. The surprise cast member was Rutger Hauer because I have rarely watched him in a comedy. I can only imagine the director trying to deal with each and every unique personality on set.
The final outcome was an entertaining hour and a half but I am not sure why 1992 needed a vampire comedy. Let me know if you know the answer.
Kevin Lazzari, owner of Video Stop, is reviewing movies for the Fitzhugh.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) is available on DVD, Blu-ray and for digital download.
