The 1992 precursor to BtVS the television series, the motion picture version of BuffyTheVampireSlayer was also written by JossWhedon. It was directed by FranRubelKuzui? and starred KristySwanson? in the role that SarahMicheleGellar? would later make her own. Many fans of the tv series dismiss the movie, and even Whedon himself had admitted that the tv series is a vast improvement upon the original film, over which he didn't have as much creative control. The original script was much darker, featuring a scene where Merrick committed suicide to keep Lothos from turning him into a vampire. The Hollywood suits lobbied to make the film lighter, thus ruining much of its potential appeal.

Although the television series never directly affiliated itself with the movie version, chronologically it was accepted that the events of the film did for the most part happen, with an added reference to BuffySummers having literally torched the gymnasium of the high school. In the movie, that was the big finale and where a bunch of vampires attempted to eat the student body. This was an event that occurred in the screenplay, but not the film. One can argue that the tv series is chronologically in keeping with Whedon's vision of how the original movie should have been. The one we didn't see.

Merrick was mentioned by name in the tv series as the man whom Giles was to replace. However, in a flashback it was revealed that for {{SMG}}'s Buffy, Merrick looked nothing like DonaldSutherland. The tv series acknowledged that Buffy learned about her VampireSlayer duties in Los Angeles, but that her mother moved them to SunnydaleCalifornia? mostly because of those events, thus hoping her daughter could start fresh. So the tv series acknowledged the movie, but by moving Buffy to Sunnydale they avoided messing with any continuity glitches.

Quick Summary of the plot: Buffy was a normal cheerleader in a Los Angeles high school when a man named {{Merrick}} approached her and introduced himself as her {{Watcher}}. He told her that she was TheChosenOne?, a woman whose purpose was to eradicate as many {{vampires}} as possible, and probably eventually die in the process. After some reluctance, Buffy eventually accepted her role, took some training from Merrick, and then faced RutgerHauer? as {{Lothos}} and his minions. During this battle, Buffy irrevocably ruined her social status among her peers, averted an apocalypse, killed a lot of vampires, practically destroyed the school, and lost her Watcher. Merrick died during their confrontation with Lothos.

There are a few more noteworthy things about the film version.

  • Whenever vampires were near, Buffy would know because she'd get PMS like cramps. Thankfully, that's one of the things which did not carry over into the television series.
  • One of the few real highlights of the movie is Amilyn's death scene. Portrayed by PaulReubens?, it's one of the funniest things he's ever done outside a bowtie.
  • The film made about 16.5 million dollars.
  • It was filmed at Marshall High School, Los Angeles, California, USA, which is the same location for films like Scott Baio's Zapped, Molly Ringwald's Pretty In Pink, and the tv series Boston Public, among others.
  • Buffy's last name is never mentioned specifically in the film itself.
  • Before KristySwanson? landed the part, AlyssaMilano? was slated for it.
  • BenAffleck? played a basketball player. Today this would be called a cameo role, but back then he was just an extra.
  • SethGreen was supposed to be in the film, but his scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. He's the only person involved in the performance of the film to also be a regular on the tv series.

The film ran an hour and twenty-six minutes.

 
Page last modified on August 29, 2003, at 08:59 AM
simplaPoweredBy