Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992)

Destiny can come calling at the most inconvenient moment, like when you're busy planning the senior prom. Fran Rubel Kuzui's 1992 tongue-in-cheek vampire comedy "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is sugar-coated horror, an unusual blend of cute and creepy, with a dash of postmodern pop silliness to give culture critics something to chew on. Kristy Swanson plays Buffy Summers, a Southern California cheerleader who learns she's the latest in an ancient line of vampire slayers. Trained by her mysterious mentor, Merrick (Donald Sutherland), she transforms into a high-kicking, stake-wielding warrior and the sworn enemy of Lothos (Rutger Hauer), a vain and ancient master vampire. Luke Perry co-stars as a scruffy outsider who becomes her unlikely ally and love interest. The emphasis is on cheerful attitude, though the action can be as genuinely unsettling as any decent monster movie. Paul Reubens, better known as Pee-wee Herman, has a memorable role as Lothos' fanged sidekick. The script was written by Joss Whedon, who was unhappy with how the film turned out and went on to reimagine the story as the far more acclaimed TV series five years later.