Before the hit TV series, there was the 1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie—a campy teen horror-comedy that’s very different in tone from what fans later came to love. Starring Kristy Swanson as Buffy, this version leans heavily into cheese, with dialogue that’s often so dumb it’s funny, and a story that feels more like a parody than a real horror flick.

What makes it interesting, though, is the cast. You’ve got Luke Perry as the love interest, Donald Sutherland as Buffy’s mentor, Rutger Hauer chewing scenery as the vampire king, and even a young Paul Reubens and Hilary Swank showing up. It’s wild to see so many big names in something this silly.

The movie itself is clunky, with uneven humor and over-the-top performances, but it does have a quirky charm that makes it a cult curiosity. It’s more camp comedy than vampire horror, and it’s definitely not the Buffy most people think of.

Final Score: 5/10.
A goofy, cheesy film with terrible dialogue—but a surprising cast and a strange kind of nostalgic fun.