Is the Buffy Movie 'Good Actually'?

[@katemaloney4296]

Rutger Hauer, Donald Sutherland, Luke Perry, and Paul Reubens . . . . Four names to make me smile and break my heart at the same time.

[@BetterWithBob]

Only 32 years ago and they're no longer with us

[@edwardsanchez3708]

It is very sad seeing the people we grew up watching passing away all constantly, especially the early unexpected ones like Luke Perry

[@gingerkid1048]

This was what we watched for Sutherlands passing.

[@nicklundy9965]

Thank you for the Sailor Moon comparison. I binged the entire 90s anime during covid. And when i started watching Buffy last year it immediately clicked with me. I even refer to as Buffy "Slayer Moon". I'll probably check out the movie sometime.

[@BetterWithBob]

Slayer Moon is a great name lol

[@beautye5909]

he didn't make the comparison (that was the kinda the in-depth convo i thought might happen). The show was inspired by it (that's why there's something to compare....). You are looking at the egg, not the chicken

[@TeresaTabitha]

200 Episodes of Girl power is just AWESOME (Japanese subtitled version, Im not sure how many were cut, chopped, and edited for the dubbed version by DIC)

[@AC-dk4fp]

@@TeresaTabitha DIC only removed about 3 but only did the first two seasons.

[@rb5078]

YES!!! Finally someone who appreciates this movie. This was my favorite movie as a kid. Saw it in theaters twice and my mom bought it for me on VHS as soon as it came out. I watched it daily for years and still quote it regularly over thirty years later.

[@Min.poledancer]

Me too! The amount of times Ive used "does the word duh mean anything to you" 😂😂😂

[@BetterWithBob]

I'm going to start saying that more often XD

[@thomasciuffreda8783]

Yeah, I finally watched this four years ago. If you just watch as its own thing, it's a fun teen comedy with horror elements. I also understand why people didn't know what to make of it when it came out, since it's so campy it's not scary, but also has dramatic elements, like Buffy grieving her Watcher's death. Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry and Donald Pleasance give great performances, which elevates it into good film.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah it definitely got blowback from the cult that formed around Joss Whedon, and since he disowned it, they all did as well

[@vikkidonn]

@@BetterWithBobit’s shocking how many people actively try to keep reactors of the show away from the movie. Telling them it’s bad and should be discarded….. even though while technically separate it is also cannon. The show happens after with direct references to many of the events in the first season. There are even timeline retcons in later seasons like when Buffy was losing her mind in the pavilion. There are things seemingly removed from the shows official cannon while on the whole the entire movie is ACTUALLY cannon. Her friends, her personality changes from then to the show, her family, her dead watcher, the vampire horde ect. There are also direct “Easter eggs” and obvious thoughts joss played with. Like Buffy’s romance with spike, while pike is seemingly not cannon in the show. The characters similar constructions ect. There’s ALOT there.

[@ShanaJahsintaWalters]

The Buffy movie is freaking awesome.

[@BetterWithBob]

Tis indeed XD

[@gloriathomas3245]

Except the movie does represent Joss Whedon's actual vision because the film is totally different from his actual intention.

[@voxangelaemortis]

I am one of those rare few who (strongly) prefers the movie over the show. Glad you enjoyed it. Welcome to the cult of appreciation.

[@ScarletVoodoo]

I'll sit at your table. I've always preferred the film

[@peterwright6721]

@voxangelaemortis just how on earth can you possibly say that this shit movie is better then the program? What do you like about this turd, the terrible script, the over acting of just about every one except Buffy herself who can't act, the unfunnyness, the action scenes so badly done you instantly forget about them. Sorry but just one episode of Buffy beats this movie crap, The Body or The Gift or Seeing Red beats this movie to a bloody mess.

[@jo0ls_dee]

I was obsessed with the movie when I discovered it at the video store in 1994. my bestie and I must've rented it 100x before the TV show came out. Once I got over the disappointment that the PMS and high camp was gone, I came to love the TV show, it's just a different story.

[@lynnevetter]

Saame! My bestie and I watched my copy every weekend.🎉🎉🎉

[@jo0ls_dee]

@@lynnevetter I love that 💜 I also just realized I've had the funky chicken cheer memorized for 30 yrs 😳 and I don't know how to feel about it 😅

[@lynnevetter]

@@jo0ls_dee maybe you just need a chill lozenge. 🤣

[@LG-lk5es]

I had the poster from the video rental store ❤. I love this movie ^_^

[@racheldoesfandom]

Love this video! Thank you for giving some love to a very underappreciated film. Particularly liked the comparison to Heathers and Jawbreaker 💕

[@BetterWithBob]

Thanks for watching :)

[@alexbobalix7503]

My babysitter growing up loved the movie. She had a dog named Pike. I haven't made it thru the first season of Buffy but I watch the movie at least twice a year

[@nightmareTomek]

My parents named my dog Buffy over 30 years ago, except they spelled it completely differently.

[@fondajames]

The first season of buffy is the worst of them. It genuinely gets better later on and has a few episodes that are among the best of any show. Like the episode Hush

[@nightmareTomek]

@@fondajames disagree. The first season is VERY rough, but still good. The last ones are boring and repetitive, and Buffy becomes very dislikeable. A few gem episodes among those, but overall rather bad.

[@BetterWithBob]

@@nightmareTomek How did they spell it?

[@nightmareTomek]

@@BetterWithBob Baffi. xD Different language...

[@mintkit1064]

YESSSS! I loved this movie as a kid and rewatched it all the time. The show is great and so is this movie. They're different but both good. ❤

[@BetterWithBob]

Yes, exactly

[@Marzellus1991]

True SMG is my true Buffy girl, but Kristy Swanson brought just as much charisma and personality to the character. I believe Swanson did her own stunts too

[@PrecariousPorcupine]

Unrelated, but I like the thought that a Magen David can repel vampires just like crosses. I was first introduced to the concept in the Moon Knight comics. The thought behind this is that it's the persons faith that gives the symbol its power, not that crosses and stars have any inherent powers of their own. Great video btw!

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah that tracks. I know Anne Rice was initially very atheist, which is why her vampires weren't affected by crucifixes

[@robchuk4136]

"There's a subsection of fans who actually prefer [Kristy Swanson] to Sarah Michelle Gellar"- *raises hand, uh, yea, that's me! Saw the movie in theaters as a kid and had fun. I hadn't watched a lot of horror comedies yet at that age, so it felt fresh. And though I didn't know how to articulate it at the time, I totally clicked with the genre mashup and the concept of empowering the bimbo. Bill and Ted, Surf Ninjas, Pauly Shore movies... Airhead protagonists were "a thing" back then, but I hadn't seen something like that for the girls. (even today, only the videogame Lollipop Chainsaw does similar things.) Plus, Buffy was basically a female superhero, who has to juggle her life similar to Spider-Man, and that felt novel, too. Before her, there was only the Wonder Woman tv show and she was old (by my kid standards) and the Supergirl movie that was awful. I just didn't see butt-kicking superheroines anywhere. I carried such an affinity for this movie, that embarrassingly, I was very skeptical when a TV remake was announced.. Of course, the rest is history. We'll have to agree to disagree about Batman Forever, but thanks for showing this some love😊

[@BetterWithBob]

Thanks for your thoughts :)

[@bemasaberwyn55]

Kristy is amazing and she should've had a great career

[@Mary-cw4lf]

Swanson IS Buffy. Love SMG, but she is not my Buffy

[@sebastianshook6771]

What A Coincidence, I'm Actually In The Middle Of Watching The First Season.

[@Joshjoshomg]

In middle of Season 6 again

[@LovetheLuvRecords]

Lol I was watching the episode "Seeing Red" from season 6 earlier this afternoon 🥴

[@Joshjoshomg]

@@LovetheLuvRecords I love Seeing Red

[@michaelleoanrd194]

Well episode 1 references the events of the film directly and the season 1 finale puts Buffy back in a white gown and combat boots.

[@ВикторМармаза-ф1ч]

Вообщенесмотетьэтупсихушку

[@cherrylattimore]

The Buffy movie was always my introduction to the character but then I'm a bit older than you. And the movie is EVERY thing I want in a campy movie. At no point does it take itself too seriously and it an enjoyable jaunt from start to finish. BEST DEATH SCENE EVER!! But don't watch the movie expecting the seriousness of the show cause other than the most basic of premises the two have nothing in common. Gonna go make some popcorn and settle down for a giggle!!

[@dragonbreath649]

Whenever the Buffy series gets revived we need a multiverse episode where both buffys fight together

[@natyc19]

See as someone who watches this movie every Halloween season, i love this movie

[@SerenSehota-tq8pw]

Batman Forever is also MY favorite Batman movie! I thought I was the only one! 🤩

[@AkamoriRivals]

So there are three of us then!

[@GnomeMoreGoodbyes]

Four ❤

[@hauntedbelle]

It's not my favorite but I've always liked it. I thought it was fun. Never understood the hate.

[@BetterWithBob]

HiTop Films makes five I think. Although he might prefer The Batman

[@carynfisher9463]

I'm the reverse of you. Saw the movie in theaters the weekend it came out and LOVED it! Still haven't watched the show.

[@JB-bo6yf]

Trust me you're not missing much not watching the series the movies way better no matter what the Gen Z say😊😊

[@barbarabaker1457]

I grew up up with the Movie and was Buffy's age when the series came out. Loved both. Half way through season 2 got me into deep waters of psychology on one hand and a world that yanked you in so hard it's easy to forget how many layers it has but amazing on all levels. Movie is a lot better than the credit its given as is the spinoff.

[@chriscommons7915]

@@JB-bo6yfIm a millennial and the series was massive with us, gen z and even some boomers. It has some of the best eps of tv ever made

[@anplica]

I can quote this entire movie, but haven’t actually watched a full episode of the tv show. And I’m pleased with that reality. Thanks for this reminder of a fun film.

[@BetterWithBob]

Thanks for watching :)

[@BradLad56]

Not the last time Rutger Hauer would play a master vampire, since he played Barlow in the 04 version of Salem's Lot.

[@melodramatic7904]

The TV show is actually a continuation of the movie. It connects on the first episode when the principle initially says that he doesn't care what she did in her last school, but then realized she had burned it down (the ending of the movie).

[@BetterWithBob]

She doesn't burn the gym down in the movie though. She did in Joss Whedon's original script, so the show treats that as the origin point rather than the finished movie

[@edwardsanchez3708]

I actually went and saw Buffy, the vampire slayer at the theater in 1992. Kristy Swanson became one of my greatest crushes of all time lol. I remember being extremely excited about news of the tv show. I made sure I tuned into the first episode of Buffy, the vampire slayer, and I almost blew a gasket in rage when I saw that it was not Kristy Swanson as buffy lol. I ignored the show for about 20 years before I decided to buy the dvd set and give it a chance. The show grew on me instantly and I ended up loving it almost as much as the movie itself. I still love and watch the 1992 movie occasionally.

[@bananaspliitz9136]

I will always be a Buffy show lover and I don’t think of the movie as canon. That doesn’t make it n e less of a campy hilarious fun time that I would watch n e day💜

[@Lumi.Library]

I’m a millennial, but I had generation gap sisters who all grew up in the 80’s, so this film was a family staple every halloween. It was ahead of it’s time in terms of tone and humour in my opinion.

[@BetterWithBob]

How do you mean ahead of its time? Genuinely curious

[@sparaz]

You do realize that millin's were 1981 to 1996? So generalitional gap that grew up in the 80s makes no sense because the vast majority of your generation grew up in the 80s.

[@gingerkid1048]

I'm so old I saw this in the theater as a preteen. Loved it then. The show was also great but a different beast. Horror comedy is hard to get right but when it is...chef's kiss.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yes!

[@Amy-yh8kf]

The only reason that I looked forward to the show was because I loved the movie! How funky is your chicken? How loose is your goose? If you know, you know! Of course, I was 10 years-old when it came out, but I rented it out on video as a teenager.

[@BetterWithBob]

Ah the days of video rentals. So magical lol

[@HeySlothKid]

I spent my own pocket money to watch this movie in theatres and LOVED it. Glad to see it's finding a new audience

[@JB-bo6yf]

The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Kristy Swanson is the best she's the real Buffy😁😁💝💝

[@darkmercury99]

I absolutely loved the movie! It’s so fun. When the show started, I was actually really excited…until I saw the pilot. It was ~different~. I did not like it at all. I happened to later catch a season 2 episode (“Passion”), and was utterly confused by what was going on, and didn’t bother with it again until summer re-runs of season 3. “Band Candy.” I was all in after that, lol. And season 6 is my favourite

[@BetterWithBob]

And do I guess by the username that you're a fellow fan of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon XD

[@CTEagleCeltic]

Just realized that the vamp arm removal in Blade, has to be a direct Homage to Buffy the movie… Sooo mad I just put this together.

[@BetterWithBob]

Oh I've never seen Blade so can't comment

[@bemasaberwyn55]

😂😂 omfg HOW did I miss this

[@CTEagleCeltic]

@@BetterWithBob please…. See Blade… you will not regret it.

[@CTEagleCeltic]

@@bemasaberwyn55 Right? Seen at least 5 Blade Easter egg video just killing time, No one’s ever mentioned it. Buffy doesn’t get enough love tho… the Ven-Diagram probably doesn’t hit.

[@michelegraham1181]

Dance 'til you can't, dance 'til you can't, dance no more.

[@BetterWithBob]

In my head now dammit (tbf was already there)

[@rikkiwear853]

I saw this in the theater opening weekend because I had a crush on Luke Perry. I've always liked it.

[@BetterWithBob]

A valid reason lol

[@alanmike6883]

I had such a crush on Kristy Swanson. Still do even after all these years. Definitely would've picked her in pretty in pink. The original Buffy film was something mum rented out of blockbuster and we both enjoyed

[@BetterWithBob]

Funnily enough she only got that part on a fluke from what I understand. Ducky was meant to end up with Andie, but test audiences either thought he came across as gay or she just had better chemistry with Blane. So they created a new girl for Ducky to end up with

[@alanmike6883]

@@BetterWithBob Well ducky deserved better anyway 😁

[@KeyDash753]

In addition to Buffy, I also love The Chase. She was also great in her recurring role on Psych.

[@Garch-the-Great]

I first saw it in a packed theater with my friends, and it was a VERY Rocky Horror-like experience, with everybody yelling at the screen. I watched a good chunk of the first season of the show when it aired, but I could never get into it and finally gave up. Kristy Swanson will always be Buffy to me. And a Deadly Friend. And a Mannequin. God, I'm old.

[@BetterWithBob]

Oh that sounds fun lol

[@ScarletVoodoo]

I used to love that stupid Mannequin sequel so much

[@columbatiberius2176]

I love Joel Schumacher's Gotham. By far my favourite live-action adaptation of the home town of the Bat. These days, I think that I prefer Movie Buffy over TV Buffy. Movie Buffy keeps her "inversion of traditional 1st to die in slasher/horror is now the apex predator" while TV Buffy seems desperate to drop that. At least that's what I felt.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah it seems that Joel wanted to recreate not necessarily the panels of the book, but the feeling a child would experience as they read the book

[@taylorslade961]

I LOVED this movie growing up. I was in middle school when the show came out and we all loved it. So, when one of my friends said, there's a movie and I have it, we were all hooked.

[@Nemo-kk7qg]

You had me at "6th season is actually my second favorite."

[@BetterWithBob]

What about if I say Season 7 is my third favourite?

[@Nemo-kk7qg]

​@@BetterWithBob Fair play, as long as we are talking about personal preference and not about ranking them by quality. Season 7 has Caleb and a few most excellent early episodes ("Him" and "Conversations With Dead People" are among my all-time favorites). However, as a complete season, it is not as consistently great as Season 2 is and, IMO, it's finale isn't strong enough to make up for it (as is the case with Season 6). Because of this, I couldn't consider it better then S02.

[@ReviewsWithAL_]

2 uploads in 10 days god damn he's on it!

[@jeffkoenig7402]

Actually loved this essay. I was hesitant because you found Buffy so long after the fact, whereas I was a high schooler when the movie came out and distinctly remember planting myself in front of the TV premiere specifically because of that. There's SO MUCH time capsuled context to do this kind of analysis, but you honestly nailed it. Analysis videos like this so often view the content in a modern context. In any retrospective, that's important, of course. But the original context also really, really matters. Star Wars was released in not just on the back of "clean" sci-fi like 2001, but also in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and Watergate. It succeeded in that context both for being a return to "fun" action adventure *and* for embracing then-undervalued concepts like empowered female protagonists and anti-imperialist sensibilities. Twin Peaks was released when there were only 3 networks and ran against shows like Dallas and Beverly Hills 90201, *well* before shows like The X-Files, Supernatural, and Lost made genre weirdness commonplace in the mainstream. The BtVS movie, like Heathers, The Crow, and others in the late 80's/early 90's, worked specifically because they gave geeks and weirdos something to love at a time when no one made movies or TV for geeks and weirdos... something that's basically inconceivable today. So yes, you did the homework and aced the assignment. Nice job. Bonus points for digging up the Kristy Swanson quote about Christian Slater at the premiere, which even I had never seen before.

[@BetterWithBob]

Excellently said :) I was lucky that con panel came up in my recommendations and I had it on in the background, so I went "oh that's cute, have to put that in there"

[@acousticmonkey2209]

"You threw a knife at my head!"😂 Thank you, Bob. I was so excited for this one and it didn't disappoint. I knew Paul Rubens improvised and always found it interesting that Joss didn't mind when he did it, but hated it when Donald Sutherland did. He went so far as to say that Rubens was the only one who got his vision. I feel dear ol' Don was just grown up enough to stand his ground. And his choices were right for that character. Really, based on this, we should have noticed the red flags. Still, nothing will destroy my love of the TV show. I started there with season 3, going back later, and that's where I remain😊

[@Commentcomment321]

I've always loved this movie but it's not because of anything real, it's because her kicks are actually not terrible - she was very good

[@BetterWithBob]

A valid reason as any lol

[@ThatSquareChick]

Buffy legitimately inspired me to take gymnastics, leading to a love for the uneven bars in a way that is STILL useful to me as I’m about to hit my mid-40s.

[@lidu6363]

Great, now I have to rewatch it.

[@JB-bo6yf]

Yeah the series aren't that great I mean they're okay but the movies way better I prefer just watching the movie instead that that anykinda troll in a port storm😁

[@gamegeargirl8086]

I love both and always have. I watched the movie at a birthday party when I was around 6 or 7. I hadn't even heard of the show, but watched an episode by accident during its first season because I saw "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on the TV guide channel and thought they were showing the movie! I was pumped and then very angry. I still watched the show and soon began to love it.

[@BetterWithBob]

I imagine it was a surreal watch for a 6-year-old. I saw Jaws when I was that age

[@CTEagleCeltic]

I was lucky enough to own the VHS for Buffy the Movie… Paul Ruben was hilarious. Kristy Swanson will always be Buffy, to me.

[@thebatridesagain]

I’m old enough to have watched the film long before the show was made…. I love both.

[@TeresaTabitha]

Ive been saying since about 1993 "There is only One Buffy, and she is Kristy Swanson" The movie is awesome for all the reasons and more that you dont mention. The entire sound track was very rooted in the 1980s falling to the 1990s and it may date the film eventually, but just fits right. Costume Design was pivotal as well. That part of fashion was pure pulling out and going into the 1990s. It is so classic that today, a 1990s costume can still be considered "modern" or equally fashionable in 2024. Too much more to put in a note here that will never get read.

[@BetterWithBob]

I never understood why something looking like it was made when it was actually made was ever a bad thing. I like how things become time capsules

[@LovetheLuvRecords]

I enjoyed this movie as well BUT I definitely prefer the series, it's top notch 90s-00s aesthetic material. Btw, it'd be incredible to hear your voice doing a series analysis about the Buffy series 👀🥹🙏🏾

[@TheLyleB]

Paul Reubens’ death scene is one of the best in film.

[@BetterWithBob]

The fact that he had the skill and talent to just think of something like that on the spot...what a man

[@SierahtheDaring]

I loved the movie so much as a kid. Still never watched the tv shows lol

[@Brooks430]

The show is good too, but different because Buffy has a different personality and the show gets very dark at times.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah it's very much an apples and oranges situation

[@SierahtheDaring]

@@Brooks430 sometimes it’s nice to save something good for later. When the time is right, maybe I’ll get into it

[@enzosotheraccount]

NO CUZ YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT TRYING TO REWATCH THE SHOW NOW it was so formative for me, but it is so hard to go back and enjoy a rewatch now 😭

[@BetterWithBob]

I think I sympathise lol

[@maramoon333]

I actually could never get into the show but I love the movie🤷🏻‍♀️

[@BetterWithBob]

I know a few who share that sentiment XD

[@mychunkyjordi7585]

I don't mind this film but I don't think it got much marketing. My local cinema I worked at in 92 had to give a refund as only 5 people turned up for it. Luckily more turned up for the night show 🤣🤣👍💜🐾

[@DD-pi1ks]

I genuinely love both.. The movie is thoroughly entertaining, campy as hell, pro feminine, funny, and occasionally moving. The show is all of these things as well but has the time to explore these aspects in more depth and takes us to places I never thought possible based solely on the premise. Buffy TVS show gave us some of the best television episodes of all time. Great retrospective! And hard agree on Whedon’s fall from grace souring his legacy.

[@BetterWithBob]

Exactly. It's very much apples and oranges

[@dawnmayflower4422]

I’ve always loved the original movie. Saw it first over two decades ago before I watched the series. I actually grew up on the film - seeing it as a kid - and then watched the series when I was a teen. I knew the show was more popular, obviously, but I didn’t know the movie was hated and denounced so much? In my family (both immediate and extended) it’s a well loved film. I’ve always liked the slight campiness to it and the bright colours despite it being about goofy vampires eating people. My all time favourite scene was Amilyn’s death - has never failed to make me laugh, even now. Truly ridiculous lol. The opening is indeed iconic.

[@BetterWithBob]

Very well said :)

[@curiouscat5708]

5:10 Season 6 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer is my favorite season lol. 💙

[@BetterWithBob]

I love it so much!

[@LDtheBrachio]

On an unrelated note, would you be willing to (unless literature is not a thing you'd want to cover on your channel) cover Buffy Season 8 the comic?

[@BetterWithBob]

Ah probably not I'm afraid. I'm not really a literature person

[@Viperthesamurai]

11:00 I think I was at that panel! I have pictures of Kristy (in that outfit) and Luke (couldn’t see enough to see if he’s dressed the same) when I saw them at a convention!

[@BetterWithBob]

The video says it's from Calgary Expo in 2015 if that helps?

[@Viperthesamurai]

@@BetterWithBob I did not see that, but it was the CCEE where I saw them. Thanks for the confirmation!

[@anthony_castro710]

I grew up watching both the movie and TV show but specifically the film holds a special place in my heart

[@bibliofiliafull]

Thank you!! I love this movie and I've never understood why all the hate. I actually became fan of the show because of the movie.

[@yundorphin]

S6 is my favorite season - and whoo Sailor Moon's influence strikes again

[@gloriathomas3245]

Joss Whedon has never once made any reference to Sailor Moon other than pointing to Night Of The Comet as his only influence.

[@yundorphin]

@@gloriathomas3245 xD i wasn't talking about whedon.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yep it was Fran Rubel Kuzui who cited Sailor Moon as an influence

[@Richard_deVries]

I watched the movie back when it was first released, i remember it being fun, not great. Just fun, goofy silly campy fun. The series is a follow up of the movie, the events in the movie are referenced in the first few episodes of the series. Notably the reason for Buffy moving from LA to Sunnydale following her activities in the movie.

[@BetterWithBob]

The series isn't a direct follow-on. More following the events in Joss Whedon's script

[@operationgoldfish8331]

I'm old. I saw the original movie in the cinema when it was released in the UK and that was why I started watching the TV series when it came out. Consequently, I've always considered it soft canon.

[@BetterWithBob]

Which one?

[@olived9560]

Really good video, I need to watch this - also I’m someone who read and didn’t really question the comments about Donald Sutherland so thank you so much for that section!

[@therongjr]

It was a staple of my childhood! I'm not sure that meant it was good, but I enjoyed it . . .

[@BetterWithBob]

Ah we'll give it the W just to be nice lol

[@brandiarmstrong2902]

I actually only started watching the show this year, when I got Hulu and Disney+ back. But I saw the movie back in high school, 20 years ago.

[@UnveiledAngel]

I've always liked it. It's a fun popcorn movie.

[@AkamoriRivals]

I think a lot of the issues with western entertainment now (in the 2020's) is that women are no longer allowed to be feminine. Any female hero of any kind has to be on par with the men physically, and behaviorally act like an 18 year old frat boy to be viewed as "strong". Instead of allowing femininity to be a strength they replace it with traditionally masculine behaviors, thus subtracting from the female character, any semblance of their feminine strengths - while then calling the character "strong". Movies back then were capable of letting a woman be caring, compassionate, maternal, and feminine while still making them "strong". And I don't think entertainment - at least mainstream - can do that anymore.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah in some ways it really was better during the 'Girl Power Era'

[@dangreene3895]

Yeah that movie was a campy comedy with some vampire action thrown in , it wasn't that bad, but not as good as the show. I always thought of it as a movie like the original Fright Night.

[@darlingimscared]

I always enjoyed the buffy film growing up, I'm 33 so I was still really young watching the TV series. Anyway the film was shown at least once a year and throughout the life span of the TV series I always enjoyed the film that tells me everything I need to know

[@citrinedragonfly]

I remember seeing this in the theaters in middle school, and I loved it so much! It was a go-to weekend family movie for many years of VHS rentals, and I have it on DVD now. I love how it balances the tonal dichotomies, and I love the take on vampire lore here. I liked the series, and watched it off and on while it aired, and then in syndication, and while certain episodes are fun to rewatch if I catch them, I don't go out of my way to watch it. Not the way I do for the movie. Camp horror is so much fun. I think the only way it could have been improved would have been if Vincent Price could have played Lothos somehow. No disrespect to Rutger Hauer, because he was amazing. The entire cast is amazing.

[@BetterWithBob]

Oh wow Vincent Price in that role would have been something

[@The22ndDoctor]

While I've always loved the movie ever since seeing it in theaters way back when, after the first season of Buffy aired, I always though of this as Simone's (from Ferris Bueller) version of the story, with her going so far as to cast herself as the hero, the 90210 heartthrob as her guy, and The Hitcher as the villain

[@Nexusofgeek]

Yea its good in a campy type of way, but it's way inferior compared to the TV show which gets more than 2 hours to develop all the characters, unlike this movie which was mostly a vehicle to further Luke Perry's career.

[@jaduspeaks4754]

Having spent a lot of time in online fannish spaces, Buffy as a TV series has always had this air of being a foundational text for fandom. Like you said, it's the origin point for several tropes that persist in media to this day. However, I've never felt a strong motivation to watch the series, since everyone I've ever asked about it in recent times has given a wavering hand review. This movie, though? This movie looks like my kind of fun. I'll definitely have to give it a watch, and it'll be thanks to your video.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yep that's exactly it

[@_nightchild85]

I believe I was in middle school when the tv show Buffy come out and I was absolutely obsessed with the show. I didn’t know there was a movie till I was in high school when one of the channels was playing the movie. I actually like the movie a lot. I think both the tv show and movie are good in their own way.

[@KeyDash753]

Reubens's death scene and when he delivers the "kill him a lot" line are two of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[@BetterWithBob]

So good lol

[@blizzardof95]

Excellent video. This movie really is the epitome of camp - misunderstood and overlooked in its own time, and yet appreciated as something fresh, interesting, and unique many years later. It’s also got enough heart and substance to balance out the sillier elements. I love this movie so much - glad to see it get some respect!!

[@BetterWithBob]

Thanks for watching and well said XD

[@Mike-ix5sv]

Kristy swanson in the white dress and black leather jacket plus pee-wee as a vampie villain was all that was needed to sell this movie to me as a 13 year old when it released!!

[@kallistoindrani5689]

It's been a long time since I saw the film but I do remember thinking 'it's not as bad as people say it is'. I enjoyed it, I remember that.

[@biffstrong1079]

At the time one of my favourite fantasy short story series was Maureen Birmbaum Barbarian Swordsperson written by George Effinger. It has that vibe. There were elements of the blood/life connection standing against death. Women as the creator of life defeats death.

[@ScarletVoodoo]

I saw the film when it came out and was an instant fan. I also watched the series from beginning to end and mostly enjoyed it. Having said that, I have never felt the need to rewatch the series but have seen the film so much that I can quote just about every line

[@BetterWithBob]

And which line is the best?

[@ScarletVoodoo]

@@BetterWithBob "Excuse much, rude or anything?" comes to mind 😄

[@jrod4344]

Never watched the show. Loved the movie. Great cast too.

[@RealRabbit1124]

I hadn’t seen this movie since the 90s. I watched it earlier this year since. Now as an adult, I thought the movie was really good. It’s such a unique film. It’s like ironically good.

[@MrOtistetrax]

Whatever you think/feel about Whedon and how that colours your perception of Buffy the series in retrospect, there will always be a ton of stuff that’s great about it. Not least, the central cast in the early seasons and the chemistry that they had; the interplay between Buffy, Willow and Cordelia was always just brilliant. Each of those girls was whip-smart in different ways, and all three actresses were a joy to watch.

[@BetterWithBob]

True

[@mordaciousfilms]

To me, camp works best when it's played up enough to register as comedic, but the actors fully commit to the bit (i.e. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace) where it's somehow both cheesy but played straight. The film balances the tone right, while the show maybe leans one way or the other. The 80s for whatever reason did camp / satire really well - read: Terror Vision, Basket Case, Night of The Creeps, etc...

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah like Moulin Rogue is an excellent more modern example of high camp

[@leiaorgana436]

I loved the movie when it came out and still love it today. Never have understood why fans of the series are so hard on it, but the narrative you present about Whedon feels right. To be honest, this may be his only work that I feel great liking, given how he has distanced himself. I actually never really grokked to the show, not my aesthetic I guess. But everyone in the movie is close to my heart, actors and characters both. Thanks for the vid!

[@turboprint3d]

When i got out of the hospital , the buffy movie played 3 or 4 times a day and the wife left that channel on when she left the house . I like it more than the series

[@qui-gonrick7002]

The movie is good, but the TV show is something very different. I do wish the show would have had a Kristy Swanson guest appearance.

[@BetterWithBob]

Yeah that could have been nice. Either as a past slayer or something. I know she was trying to do films at the time and you didn't cross over back then but still

[@feudist]

I saw the movie(as an adult) in the theater. It really felt like a misfire, although the concept and lore were really interesting. I actually ignored the series when it was announced because the camp wasn't to my taste. I slowly got drawn into the series about midway into season 2 because I'd watch reruns of "Friends" and leave that channel on while I cooked dinner. This was the "Angelus" arc, the point where the series really found its serious footing. There are a lot of tonal similarities between S1 and the movie(and of course the show was made on a shoestring budget) up until "Prophecy Girl", where they really first unleashed SMG. That's where the essential darkness of the premise really hit home. ALL Slayers die in battle.There are no old Slayers. I eventually rewatched the movie and found that, yeah, it was alright. I liked Swanson a lot as Buffy because she's actually very athletic, as well as beautiful...unlike SMG, who was never convincingly martial at all, although she is an excellent actress. For the time and place, I think the movie was about as good as it could be. The idea of The Slayer was really well suited to being fleshed out across a series, and the lore revision from reincarnation to succession gave us Kendra, Faith and Sineya, as well as The execrable Council, Wesley and Giles.

[@StiII_sleepy]

such a good video great quality very informative you the goat bobby

[@BetterWithBob]

Many thanks Prince Alex. There's a very good reason you're getting mentioned in the dedications for an upcoming comic book 💙

[@the1band1wagon]

I watched the movie again maybe a year ago after watching almost all the buffy series. How I looked at it was a good first draft. I liked the themes and tone that the movie had that was continued in the series. I liked that because it became a series, the lore and universe of monsters could be expolored and faced. There were moments in the movie that left me with questions. "You're not going to kill her?" "She's not ready." READY FOR WHAT?! Head vamp seemed to have these plans for her but it didn't make sense to me what those intentions fully were. (Maybe that was just something lost on me.) I think the movie gave a good foundation for the series and you could tell what sort of things worked and what didn't. The series was able to improve on the name.

[@BetterWithBob]

I think he wanted a worthy opponent. Since they'd fought each other throughout history, he didn't want someone he could easily kill

[@AileynRed]

Hahaha, I had my introduction to his film the other way around. I knew about Buffy the TV show from magazines before it was on cable in my country, but I saw the VHS of the movie at the rental store, assumed it was the same, and went gleefully to watch it, and for like a year (until cable finally picked up the TV show) I just assumed the girl in the magazines was from a sequel to the movie or something xD

[@oscardiggs246]

The movie s bad because it fails to commit. The story is there, but the execution is timid. The tv show never fails to go all in, no matter how silly it might be. The cast is brilliant, bt the movie fails them.

[@kaz555]

I watched the tv series because of the movie (I remember when it was at the cinema). While I love the tv series the movie is a little gem. Another gem is Heathers.

[@BetterWithBob]

It took me three watches to finally 'get' Heathers but now I love it XD

[@thememedungeonkeeper]

Anyone else grow up with a VHS copy of Once Bitten in the house? Early Jim Carrey. 😂 Insanely funny. Very much a product of its time, and almost none of the zany antics he became known for. That and the Buffy movie were my introduction to Vampire lore as a kid. 😂 Loved the video. Looking forward to the next one.

[@vexisonline]

Loved the movie, saw it when it first came out, loved the series, watched it because of the movie. Never really heard of the movie being disowned and it doesn't matter to me. Both are part of my younger years 😊

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

Me and my Mum got the film out of our local VHS rental shop and enjoyed it thoroughly the cheesy fun it was (Note, her fave film was Peter Jackson's Bad Taste and she made sure I grew up on sci-fi and creature features! So she had taste). So when we heard there was a TV series being developed we were like "what! we've got to see this".

[@BetterWithBob]

Your mother sounds indeed like she had great taste ^_^

[@scottmcclary594]

Never could get into the series or angel but I always loved the movie if not for Paul Rubens alone and the sheer 90s grunge feel that now brings me back to a better time! I need to finish the series I can't seem to make it past season 4 of buffy or season 1 of angel!

[@BetterWithBob]

I know what you mean. Seasons 4 and 5 of Buffy I can't really stand, but the last two are enjoyable enough. Season 2 of Angel I remember really liking, but I don't think the show has a lot of rewatch value

[@Jemmer75]

I saw this movie when it came out and loved it (it had NOTHING to do with me having the hots for Kristy Swanson, I swear!). To me this was Buffy and it took me a few seasons of the Buffy TV show to finally accept it. In fact, it was liking the Angel series that allowed me to accept Buffy. Then, like many, after having long since accepted this as the "real" Buffy, I'm not able to go back to the show after hearing about everything that went down behind the scenes.

[@BetterWithBob]

I believe you, wink wink

[@blacksailsfan4life]

i’ve always liked both. edit: i do have an issue with some of the movie’s fanbase, tho, the ones that claim the show is trash. they’ve always been very vocal 🤷‍♀️

[@anonmouse6337]

Yeah, most show fans will find *something* to appreciate about the movie, even if they didn't like it overall. I mean, it was created by the same guy, even if the movie changed some elements. So it's weird that movie only fans never have anything nice to say about the show

[@glyyytch]

I have always preferred the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie over the Joss Whedon show. For me, this particular premise gets strained the longer the story goes on, which is a detriment for the TV show.

[@gloriathomas3245]

Except the movie is not what he intended and he has even disowned the film till this day.

[@glyyytch]

@@gloriathomas3245 I don't care what he wanted the movie to be. The fact that it isn't more like the show is part of the reason I enjoy it so much more. I never liked the show and have always been of the opinion that it is highly overrated, as is most of Whedon's work.