Tagarchief: Joss Whedon

TV Dungeon: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

(1997 – 2003, USA)

Creator: Joss Whedon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Trachtenberg, David Boreanaz

7 Seasons (144 Episodes)

‘In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone shall stand against the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.’

Specialists in the television medium consider Buffy the Vampire Slayer to be a genius show. In a poll ‘The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time’ by Empire Magazine, it became second only after The Simpsons. Why this eminent status? Because it is daring, intelligent and superbly entertaining television.

Teenager Buffy Summers and her single mum move from L.A to small town Sunnydale, which just happens to be built on the Hellmouth; the perfect breeding ground for demons, vampires and all other sorts of nasties. Buffy soon learns that she is more than just an ordinary high school girl. She is the chosen one. The Slayer.

Slayers have been around since the beginning of time to fight the forces of darkness. In Sunnydale, this means one hell of a mammoth task. Luckily, Buffy is aided in her ass-kicking mission by Giles, the high school’s librarian and her watcher. A group of friends, including a lesbian witch, an ex-vengeance demon and a turned vampire also join the fight against evil.

For many people, their teenage and young adolescent years were hard and confusing. This certainly applies for Buffy and her close friends. All typical problems for this age group are personified in the form of monsters. A creepy stepdad turns out to be literally a robot; a boyfriends turns evil after the first time; etc. These clever metaphors are only one element in making this a terrific show.

What really makes Buffy the Vampire Slayer superb are the characters. From heroes Buffy, Willow and Xander, who go through enormous developments as they grow up, to mythological vampires like Angel and Spike, who have complex and detailed background stories.

Major credits also go to creator Joss Whedon for integrating every supernatural story ever invented and more into his series. Every episode is like a small horror film of its own. And they are always suspenseful, surprising and very often…funny.

In every season, Buffy and her friends (friendship is a major theme in Buffy) have to overcome new fears and challenges. There is always a new super villain to deal with. But that aside, there are plenty of issues having to do with growing up. Buffy’s tragic romance with good vampire Angel is a perfect example of this, but there are many, many more. As the characters become older, the show becomes darker and more adult.

The final result is a dynamic mix of high school drama, horror and action. Warning: Buffy is addicting stuff, but with 144 episodes, there is more than enough to go around. Once you get into it, the Scooby gang will become an important group of people in your life, and you will sincerely miss them once you have completed the show.

Of course, you can always do a re-watch, which I plan to do very soon.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Director: Fran Rubel Kuzui
Written by: Joss Whedon
Cast: Kristy Swanson, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, Luke Perry

Year / Country: 1992, USA
Running Time: 82 mins.

Vampires have always been around us: hunting, killing, sucking blood. The chosen one is The Slayer, who alone can stand against the powers of darkness. When a slayer dies, a new one arises. But what happens in modern times? A blonde cheerleader receives the powers! Meet Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Before she moved to Sunnydale, Buffy lived in L.A., the City of Angels…and monsters. A mysterious stranger named Merrick approaches Buffy and convinces her she is the chosen one to fight evil demon Lothos, an old vampire who has been in the crusades. She gets help from romantic agitator Luke Perry. Screenplay writer Joss Whedon establishes the basis here of what would later become the renowned cult series of the same name.

The main story revolves around Buffy, who wants a normal teenager life but has to deal with dark powers and slaying vampires. Naturally this 80 minute film is more compact than the 145-episode series that followed it. Therefore some elements that made the series great – Angel, Spike, Brendan, Willow, a variety of monsters – are missing. On the other hand, Rutger Hauer as Lothos is a worthy villain and Paul Reuben is an interesting casting choice for his henchman.

Donald Sutherland is also excellent as the tutor, and Kristy Swanson portrays Buffy well, although personally I like Sarah Michelle Gellar better in the role. The kung-fu and vampire staking fights don’t look so great in this film, which is a miss, since this is an important part of the concept.

Still, if you’re into Buffy, this is a decent cult movie that can now be seen as a prequel to the television series.

Rating:

Biography: Fran Rubel Kuzui is mostly known as (executive) producer of the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. She also produced Trey Parker’s Orgazmo. Her filmography lists two directing credits: the already mentioned Buffy, and US/Japan production Tokyo Pop, in which a young female rock singer is not appreciated by her band and moves to Tokyo.

Filmography: Tokyo Pop (1988), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)