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Buffy the Vampire Slayer

(1992, Rated PG-13, Horror, Starring Paul Reubens, Donald Sutherland, Kristy Swanson)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Flippant horror comedy that birthed the TV show.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The title character has become something of an icon of teenage female empowerment, even though she's kind of an airhead here (though she matures over the story). Except for supernatural mentor-figures, parents, elders, and teachers are barely visible buffoons.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Many, many vampires get skewered on stakes, but blood (ironically) is rare, even when one of the undead has his arm torn off. Martial arts-style kicking and punching, reckless motorcycling and driving stunts. One vampire singed with a flame-thrower-like burst of ignited hairspray.

  • Sex:

    Push-up bras and corsets, some skimpy clothing. Male students say they would enjoy sex with the heroine, without going into much detail (except for praising Buffy's "yobbles," apparently a euphemism for breasts).

  • Language:

    Prominent use of "bitch," "ass," and the s-word uttered once.

  • Consumerism:

    Buffy's superior "fashion sense" is a strong component of the plot, and there's a natural tie-in to the TV series and comics spin-offs.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Mainly one gag monologue in which a pompous school administrator, suspecting Buffy of abusing drugs, speaks fondly of his 1960s narcotics experimentation and LSD trips.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Parents need to know that this forerunner of the classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series has a much different, less serious flavor (and a different cast) than the program. There is mild swearing and verbal sexual innuendo. Though violence is frequent, it's also cartoon-like and almost entirely bloodless, even when people are killed and vampires are being speared or, in one case, deprived of an arm. Except for supernatural mentors (master vampires and vampire-hunters) adults appear either idiotic or inconsequential, and a man in his 50s is considered disgustingly old.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the different ways that popular-culture storytellers have handled vampires, from Dracula to Twilight. They have symbolized pure evil but also romance and sexuality. Here vampires -- who look kind of like a marauding gang from a rival high school -- serve as a sort of catalyst for Buffy to grow up and realize there is more to life than classroom popularity. What do you think of this Buffy compared to the revamped TV version?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    HI67
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    good for teens

    Funny, but violent. It was good.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    MyBukkake
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    Trash I tell you.

    No one of an age should view this piece of garbage.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    lilmissfrankie
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    for tweens and up

    ha this was so funny

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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