Phina Oruche Movies
- 1999
In the fourth season opener, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) have entered college in Sunnydale and set about choosing courses. Despite a roommate who snores, Willow is confident in the new intellectual environment, but Buffy feels unsure of herself and completely out of place. Soon, she meets Eddie (Pedro Balmaceda), another insecure freshman clutching his favorite book, Of Human Bondage. After they part ways, Eddie is attacked by a group of vampires led by Sunday (Katherine Towne), a punkish vampire on campus. Later, Buffy realizes that Eddie was not in class and goes to his dorm room only to find his things missing, except for the book. While on slayer patrol, a newly vamped Eddie lures Buffy into a confrontation with Sunday. In other plot developments, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) has not entered college, but gone on a trip across America, ending in Oxnard and a stint in a male strip club -- as a dishwasher. Buffy also meets Riley (Marc Blucas), a psychology grad student who will factor more prominently in her life in the future. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Ever studious, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falls asleep during a class lecture and has a dream about a little girl holding a box and reciting a fairy tale about "The Gentlemen." Meanwhile, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) attends a campus Wicca meeting where she meets Tara (Amber Benson), a demure young coed. Later that night, a group of tall, thin, ghoulish, undertaker-types -- The Gentlemen -- come floating into Sunnydale stealing everyone's voices as they sleep. Perplexed by her inability to speak, Buffy goes to Giles (Anthony Head) to figure out what to do. At the same time, The Gentleman cut the heart out of their first victim, who can only writhe in silent torture. Tara seeks out Willow, hoping to perform a spell with her to combat The Gentleman, who also go after her heart. Then, Giles uncovers the fairy tale about The Gentleman in which only the scream of a Princess can stop their silent evil -- but Princess Buffy can't even whisper. Largely directed as a silent episode, this groundbreaking effort from series creator Joss Whedon was nominated for an Emmy. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
Reporter Nicole Graf (Elizabeth Berkley), who helped the squad in the Mangrini murder case, makes no secret of her lust for Det. Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons), but he chastely prefers the traditional courtship approach. Back on the job, retired English detective Jimmy Cheatham (John Standing) offers his assistance when the squad investigates a rape-murder. Cheatham is of the opinion that the killer is the same person who committed a string of crimes in London, and he insists upon being on hand when the squad converges on the suspect's hiding place -- a mortuary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The season four finale finds Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and friends returning to her house after the battle with Adam (George Hertzberg). Riley (Marc Blucas) is absent while testifying to the government about the Initiative's activities. Xander (Nicholas Brendan) suggests the group all relax and watch Apocalypse Now -- before the opening credits roll, everyone is asleep. In their dreams, each character is attacked or "challenged" by a primitively painted woman. Each dream is surreal and reflects emotionally on past season events and characters. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) tries to give a book report to a bored Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and the ancient woman sucks the spirit from her body. Then Xander dreams his father is taunting him about never moving out of the family's basement. His father rips Xander's heart from his chest while transforming into the primitive warrior woman. In Giles' dream, he figures out that the spell the group cast to imbue Buffy with stronger powers (see "Primeval") unleashed this ancient "evil" slayer who promptly slices his head open. Finally, Buffy must face the primal woman in her dreams and more importantly -- herself. ~ All Movie Guide
Genre writer/director J.S. Cardone crafts his own history of the vampire legend in this teen horror outing that takes place primarily in desert locations, à la Near Dark (1987) and Vampires (1998). Sean (Kerr Smith) is traveling across the desert to attend his sister's wedding when he picks up an unusual hitchhiker, Nick (Brendan Fehr). A vampire hunter, Nick soon has Sean embroiled in a battle between himself and a band of the undead creatures led by Kit (Johnathon Schaech). Caught in the middle of the supernatural shenanigans with Sean is Megan (Izabella Miko), who had been nearly turned into a vampire herself by Kit and his followers. Sean and Megan develop a romantic attachment, which encounters a further obstacle when Sean is infected with the vampire virus; only Kit's death can prevent Sean from permanently becoming one of the nosferatu. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kerr Smith, Brendan Fehr, (more)
