Drew Goddard

Paramount orders up another bit of monstrous mayhem with Cloverfield 2, the sequel to the hand-held trip through Manhattan during a giant creature attack. The follow-up comes complete with the original creative team intact, with Matt Reeves returning to direct along with screenwriter Drew Goddard and producer J.J. Abrams. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Producer J.J. Abrams teams with writer Drew Goddard and director Matt Reeves for this frenetic tale of a powerful destructive force that descends upon New York City, and the four desperate people who put their lives on the line to embark on a perilous rescue mission. Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) is a young American professional who has recently been offered a coveted new job in Japan. Eager to send his older sibling off in style, Rob's younger brother, Jason (Mike Vogel), and his girlfriend, Lily (Jessica Lucas), organize a surprise going-away party to take place the night before Rob boards his Eastern-bound flight. As the party gets underway, Rob's longtime friend and current love interest, Beth (Odette Yustman), shows up with another man as the dejected guest of honor's best-pal Hud (T.J. Miller) encourages partygoer Marlena (Lizzy Caplan) to wish him an on-camera farewell despite the fact that they barely know one another. Moments after Beth storms out following a bitter skirmish with Rob, the entire New York City skyline goes dark. Power is quickly restored, prompting partygoers to turn their attention toward the news, where they learn that a freight tanker has been overturned in New York Harbor. Racing to the rooftop in hopes of getting a better look at the situation, the group is terrified to witness a massive explosion that rains debris across midtown Manhattan, causing mass chaos and unparalleled destruction. But the worst is yet to come, because it soon becomes apparent that this is not the work of a terrorist or an act of war, but a massive creature beyond human comprehension. Now, as the military moves in and the streets of New York City become a virtual war zone, Rob, Lily, Marlena, and Hud race to rescue Beth and get out of the city before the powers that be unleash the ultimate weapon of mass destruction on one of the most populated cities on the planet. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Following their joint adventures in Los Angeles (see Angel, "Orpheus"), sorceress Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku) find their drive home to Sunnydale interrupted by the machinations of Caleb (Nathan Fillion), a murderous preacher who's turned away from God and toward The First. After espousing a rather misogynistic world view to a newly arrived potential slayer (Mary Wilcher), Caleb leaves her half-dead by the side of the road as a message for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). As Willow watches over the girl at the hospital, Faith finally reconnects with Buffy. Although she hasn't forgiven Faith for a multitude of past sins (see, for example, "Who Are You?"), Buffy's glad to have another slayer in town. She's less happy, however, to find Faith hitting it off with Spike (James Marsters). After mistaking the guy for a typical vamp and almost dusting him, Faith swaps smokes and stories with the soulful blood-sucker. Nobody else, though, seems very convinced that she's reformed. Soon, Caleb's victim awakens and reveals that her attacker is in control of The First's Bringers, Buffy decides it's time for the potentials to experience some real combat. Over the strenuous objections of Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), she and Faith lead a team into what turns out to be a total massacre at the hands of Caleb and his Bringers. Molly (Clara Bryant) and some other potentials bite the big one, while Rona (Indigo) suffers a broken arm. Xander (Nicholas Brendon), however, receives the most gruesome injury: Caleb puts out one of his eyes. What remains of Buffy's army flees in retreat, leaving the humbled slayer to ponder her next move. Originally broadcast April 15, 2003, on UPN, "Dirty Girls" marked episode 140 of the cult-favorite series. Three years after her last Buffy appearance and just weeks after a three-episode stint on sister series Angel, Eliza Dushku reprises her role as Faith. New villain Caleb is portrayed by Nathan Fillion, who previously starred in Firefly, the short-lived space Western from Buffy creator Joss Whedon. During a series of provocative conversations with The First, the character reveals that he's the one who blew up the headquarters of the Watchers' Council (see "Never Leave Me"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

After granting a particularly nasty wish, Anya (Emma Caulfield) comes under fire from Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the Scoobies and is forced to atone for returning to the fold of vengeance demons. The trouble begins with a co-ed who runs afoul of a bunch of frat-boy jerks and wishes for revenge. One pile of corpses later, Anya is overcome by guilt and cowers in a corner, reminiscing about her centuries-ago transformation from an abrasive Scandinavian lass into a scaly, evil wish-granter. Back in the present, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) stumbles onto the frat-house carnage and invokes some of her repressed dark magic to deal with the fallout from Anya's curse. Despite their long friendship, Buffy decides that Anya needs to be taken out, provoking an outcry from Xander (Nicholas Brendon), who feels responsible for the whole mess after having left the once-human Anya at the alter. After a knock-down, drag-out fight between Buffy and Anya, another solution presents itself: Anya summons D'Hoffryn (Andy Umberger), her demon master, and asks him to nullify her latest curse. He reminds her that the price for such a reversal is the death of a vengeance demon, and the soul-weary Anya acquiesces to certain doom. As it turns out, though, Anya survives and becomes a mere human once again -- but with one less friend and one more supernatural enemy. Originally broadcast Oct. 22, 2002, on the UPN network, "Selfless" marked episode 127 of the cult-favorite series. Freed from his troll makeup during this episode's flashback, recurring guest star Abraham Benrubi -- who plays Anya's unfaithful lover, Olaf -- may be more recognizable this time out to fans of his longtime role as mischievous desk clerk Jerry on ER. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

While on a routine patrol, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) encounters Holden Webster (Jonathan M. Woodward), a high-school classmate she barely knew, just as he's rising from the grave as a newborn vamp. The slayer and her foe spend more time talking than fighting; Holden's affable demeanor weakens Buffy's emotional defenses, leading her to articulate her deepest insecurities. The vamp's most interesting insights -- that Buffy has a thing for guys who hurt her, and, when it comes to her closest friends, suffers from both a super-power superiority complex and a moral inferiority complex -- aren't nearly as shocking as the revelation that he was sired by Spike (James Marsters). Back at the Summers' house, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) pigs out and plays with Buffy's weapons until a series of Poltergeist-like scare tactics reveals the assault of an unseen demon. Dawn fights back against the shadowy threat and eventually receives a chilling message from the shade of her own long-dead mother (Kristine Sutherland). Meanwhile, at the library, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) meets Cassie (Azura Skye), Dawn's recently deceased psychic classmate (see "Help"). The melancholy spirit claims to bear messages from Tara, Willow's late lesbian lover, but Willow sniffs something amiss when Cassie counsels her to kill herself before she loses control of her powers again. Suddenly, Cassie morphs into demon form, spits out a few nasty threats, and disappears, revealing herself to be the same shape-shifting demon who has been tormenting poor Spike all season. As for Buffy's bad-boy vampire ex, he does, indeed, appear to be feasting on human blood again. Even more blood is spilled by returning super-nerd Andrew (Tom Lenk), who ritually murders his compatriot Jonathan (Danny Strong) at the urging of a spirit who claims to be slain super-villain Warren (Adam Busch). Originally broadcast November 12, 2002, on the UPN network, "Conversations With Dead People" marked episode 129 of the cult-favorite series. After the events of this episodes, fans finally figured out that the season's shape-shifting villain is none other than the First Evil, who briefly battled Buffy four years earlier (see "Amends"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide