Julie Benz Movies
While her roots in Italian horror (Two Evil Eyes) and penchant for small-screen fantasy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Taken) may not make actress Julie Benz the most likely candidate for mainstream stardom, the prolific ice skater-turned-onscreen talent has come quite a long way since her early days in community theater and has since become one of the most promising emerging talents in film and television. A native of Pittsburgh and professional ice skater from the age of three, Benz made a name for herself in both singles and ice dancing and was at one point ranked 13th in the United States for her remarkable grace. While professional skating afforded Benz the extraordinary opportunity to travel the U.S. and visit foreign lands, the training needed to maintain one's footing on the ice is rigorous to say the least, and she ceased competitive skating at the age of 16. The daughter of a vascular surgeon, Benz hailed from a long line of doctors and was determined to become the first female medico in her family. Of course, some folks just aren't cut out for a career in medicine, though, and shortly after witnessing her first surgery, Benz realized that she was a bit too squeamish to become a doctor. With her days as a professional skater over and a life behind the scalpel out of the question, the talented teen auditioned for a role in a local community theater production and later connected with New York-based agent Vincent Cirrincione during a local acting seminar. After honing her craft in New York City, Benz set her sights on Los Angeles and never looked back.In 1990, Benz made her screen debut under the direction of legendary Italian horror specialist Dario Argento in the "Black Cat" segment of Two Evil Eyes, though it was walk-on roles in such popular television shows as Married With Children, Boy Meets World, and Diagnosis Murder that served to introduce her to stateside viewers. Of course, big-screen appearances in As Good As It Gets and Jawbreaker only helped to increase her profile, but to many fantasy fans, Benz will always be known for her role as malevolent vampire Darla on the hit shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.
With additional appearances in the miniseries Taken and and the TV show Roswell (not to mention vocal contributions to the hit video game Halo 2), it seemed that Benz had become something of a sci-fi mainstay, yet the rising star wasn't willing to be pigeonholed just yet and soon began to branch out with appearances on such popular shows as Navy NCIS, CSI, and CSI: Miami, as well. In 2006, Benz settled into her most stable small-screen role to date, playing Rita Bennett -- the emotionally damaged love interest of a Miami Police Department blood-spatter expert...who also happens to be a part-time serial killer -- on the the Golden Globe-nominated Showtime series Dexter. In 2008, she appeared opposite action icon Sylvester Stallone in the belated, bullet-strewn sequel Rambo. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2000
As flashbacks document the tangled history between Angel (David Boreanaz) and Darla (Julie Benz), Angel tries to save his newly resurrected, now-human sire from Wolfram & Hart -- and from her own desire to become a vampire again. The vague stirrings of her newborn soul lead Darla to seek Angel's help, but lawyer Holland Manners (Sam Anderson) keeps her a virtual prisoner. With assistance from reluctant ally Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane), Angel rescues Darla but refuses to turn her into a vampire, so she flees. In flashbacks, Darla is seen as a mortal in Virginia in 1609 -- a syphilitic prostitute turned into a vampire by ancient and powerful bloodsucker The Master (Mark Metcalf). Other scenes depict the first meeting between Angel and The Master; the bloody antics of Angel and Darla with Drusilla (Juliet Landau) and Spike (James Marsters); Darla murdering the gypsies who cursed Angel with a soul; and the soul-stricken Angel trying and failing to reunite with Darla during the Boxer Rebellion in China. Back in the present, the lawyers of Wolfram & Hart manipulate Darla into returning to Angel, with whom she engages in a long philosophical debate about pain, suffering, and redemption. Frightened and weak, she flees again, ordering Angel not to follow. Originally broadcast November 14, 2000, on the WB network, "Darla" marked season two, episode seven of the supernatural comedy drama. Spike is a regular character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, while The Master has served as villain for several episodes of that series, most notably the entire first season. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Immediately after the events of "The Trial," Angel (David Boreanaz) flies into action in an effort to stake the corpse of Darla (Julie Benz) before she rises again as a vampire. Ace detective work on the part of his crew helps him locate Darla in a rooftop greenhouse, where the mad Drusilla (Juliet Landau) is looking forward to "giving birth" to her "grandmother." (Darla, of course, sired Angel, who sired Drusilla, who is now siring the resurrected Darla.) As Angel and Dru slug it out, Darla rises from the dirt and joins the melee; now once again a soulless vampire, she clearly isn't on Angel's side. Eventually, she and Dru both escape and reunite at the offices of Wolfram & Hart. When Angel, too, shows up there, executive evil-doer Holland Manners (Sam Anderson) has Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm) arrest him. Darla and Dru go on a killing spree, so Kate frees Angel in order to halt them. The gleeful bloodsuckers show up at a party at Holland's house, turning on the man who brought them together. Angel arrives on the scene, but rather than save the room full of lawyers, he locks them in with the vampire vixens. When Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), Wesley (Alexis Denisof), and Gunn (J. August Richards) denounce Angel's actions, he promptly and tersely fires all three. Originally broadcast December 19, 2000, on the WB network, "Reunion" marked season two, episode ten of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
A remake of the 1973 TV movie of the same name, Satan's School for Girls is set within the grim walls of Fallbridge College for Girls. Hoping to learn the truth behind the "suicide" of her younger sister, Beth Hammersmith enrolls in Fallbridge under the assumed name of Karen Oxford. Our heroine soon learns that the school is in the clutches of a coven of witches called "The Five" -- and that she herself has the right satanic qualities to enable The Five to take over the world. Kate Jackson, who played the leading role of Roberta Lockhart in the original film, is here cast as college dean Olivia Burtis. The "new" Satan's School for Girls was telecast by ABC on March 13, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shannen Doherty, Kate Jackson, (more)
- 2000
A vision from Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) sends Angel (David Boreanaz) to the rescue of a pregnant woman (Justina Machado) who appears to be in danger from a nearby demon. After Angel kills the beast, however, it turns out it was actually protecting the woman from the Tribunal, a mysterious, inquisition-like mystical cabal. Despite her protests that he's already done more than enough, Angel insists on taking over as the woman's bodyguard. For help in this quest, he turns to the Host (Andy Hallett), the green-skinned, horned proprietor of Caritas, a demon sanctuary and karaoke bar. The Host has the mystical ability to read the aura and chart the destiny of anyone -- but only if they'll sing for him. One monumentally bad Barry Manilow rendition later, the Host arms Angel with enough knowledge to serve as the woman's champion in an impromptu jousting match. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart lawyer Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) helps Darla (Julie Benz) recover from her recent resurrection (see "To Shanshu in L.A."). And in a brief epilogue, Angel visits rogue slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku) in jail, where they talk about their respective paths to redemption. Originally broadcast September 26, 2000, on the WB network, "Judgement" marked season two, episode one of the supernatural comedy drama. J. August Richards, a guest star from previous episodes, joins the regular cast in this episode. And Andy Hallett, playing the important recurring character the Host, makes his first appearance. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
When Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) suffers one of her visions, Angel (David Boreanaz) and his crew discover the existence of Bethany Chaulk (Daisy McCrackin), an emotionally disturbed young telekinetic. Even after her out-of-control powers impale Angel with a metal spike, he extends an offer of help and sanctuary. As it turns out, though, Bethany is actually living with evil Wolfram & Hart associate Lilah Morgan (Stephanie Romanov), who plans to manipulate the young woman into being an assassin for the firm. In a moment of distress, Bethany accidentally injures Lilah, and, wracked by guilt at having hurt her supposed friend, heads to Angel for advice. With the help of Gunn (J. August Richards), who has recently become a paid employee of Angel Investigations, Angel figures out what's really going on and attempts to warn Bethany about Wolfram & Hart. Then Lilah brings out the big guns, staging an impromptu reunion between Bethany and her abusive father (Gareth Williams). Now fully in control of her powers, Bethany teaches her father a lesson, and with Angel's help, starts a new life. Meanwhile, Darla (Julie Benz) continues her nocturnal visits to Angel's bedroom, disrupting his sleep patterns and leaving him obsessed. Originally broadcast October 17, 2000, on the WB network, "Untouched" marked season two, episode four of the supernatural comedy drama. When Angel gets impaled on a reebar in this episode, it prompts a crack from Cordelia about a similar injury she received on Buffy in "Lovers Walk." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
After the build-up of the past several episodes, Angel (David Boreanaz) finally comes face to face with Darla (Julie Benz), his vampire sire, who was recently resurrected by evil law firm Wolfram & Hart. As it turns out, however, she's been brought back as a human in an attempt to manipulate him into turning evil again. The entire reunion is staged by Darla and lawyer Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) as a cruel trap in which Angel is duped into thinking Darla may actually be someone else entirely -- a normal human woman named Diedra Cramer. The ruse even convinces Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm), who tries to protect "Diedra" from Angel. Eventually, Angel kidnaps Darla and she confesses all, attempting to seduce him and destroy his soul in the process. He warns her that as a human she has a soul now, too, and will experience endless regret for her 400 years of bloodshed as a vampire. Unconvinced, Darla declares, "God doesn't want you, but I still do," then escapes into the sunlight, leaving Angel despondent. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew learns about Darla's resurrection, and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof) must bring Gunn (J. August Richards) up to speed on Angel's propensity for reverting to the evil Angelus whenever he experiences a moment of true happiness (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Innocence"). Flashbacks also chronicle Angelus and Darla's reign of terror in Victorian England and their corruption and vampirification of the delicate Drusilla (Juliet Landau). Originally broadcast October 24, 2000, on the WB network, "Dear Boy" marked season two, episode five of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The partnership between Gunn (J. August Richards) and Angel Investigations deepens when the streetwise vampire hunter asks for help in dealing with a demon named Deevak (Alan Shaw), who has begun taking over the criminal underworld in his neighborhood. Angel (David Boreanaz) and the gang accompany Gunn to a meet up with an underworld informant, but the guy chickens out. Later, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) -- plagued by visions of Gunn in mortal danger and unable to contact Angel or Wesley (Alexis Denisof) -- attempts to save Gunn from the evil Deevak, but ends up in the center of a fracas at a house party plagued by unwanted demonic guests. Eventually, Deevak is revealed to have been the trailing the gang all along, but in disguise. Angel and Wes arrive just in time to assist Cordy and Gunn in a climactic battle. Meanwhile, former client David Nabbit (David Herman -- see "War Zone") gives Angel some financial advice on his acquisition of the Hyperion Hotel (see "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?") and Angel is plagued by erotic dreams about Darla (Julie Benz), unaware of her recent resurrection or the fact that she is physically present in his room as he slumbers. Originally broadcast October 10, 2000, on the WB network, "First Impressions" marked season two, episode three of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Wesley (Alexis Denisof) attempts to translate the Scrolls of Obearsain after Angel (David Boreanaz) stole them from Wolfram & Hart (see "Blind Date"). Eventually, he learns that a key word, "shanshu," means "to die" and interprets the passage as a prophesy that Angel, the "vampire with a soul," will die. When Angel acts nonplussed at the news, his friends worry that he has become callous after so many years among the undead. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart enlist a powerful demon named Vocah (Todd Stashwick) to sever Angel's ties to the Powers That Be. It kills the oracles, drives Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) mad with a continuous, painful vision, and blows up the headquarters of Angel Investigations while stealing back the ancient scrolls. Angel once again turns to Gunn (J. August Richards) for help, this time to watch over Cordy and the injured Wesley. The spirit of one of the oracles helps Angel track down Vocah, who is using the scrolls to preside over a mystical ceremony with the Wolfram & Hart lawyers. Angel interrupts the ceremony and kills Vocah, then severs the hand of Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) when he attempts to burn the scrolls. Later, with everyone recovered from their tribulations, Wesley takes another crack at translation and learns that "shanshu" actually means "to live." It seems that Angel may one day become mortal again. Back at Wolfram & Hart, a snarling creature lurks in a cage -- Darla (Julie Benz), Angel's slain vampire sire, brought back from the dead as an instrument of vengeance. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
When Angel (David Boreanaz) learns that Trevor Lockley (John Mahon), the father of Det. Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm), is involved in a demon drug ring, it brings back painful memories of his troubled relationship with his own father and his transformation into a vampire. Someone, it seems, is peddling PCP-like drugs that turn normally peaceful demon races such as the Kwaini into killers. Kate reluctantly teams with Angel to investigate, but she's unprepared for the revelation that her dad, a retired cop, is in leagues with the dope-pushers. Soon, though, Mr. Lockley turns up dead, emotionally shattering Kate and further eroding her tenuous alliance with Angel. Nonetheless, Angel rescues her from the turncoat demons who killed her father. Throughout the investigation, Angel is haunted by his memories of quarreling with his father, becoming a vampire, and then killing his entire family. Originally broadcast February 22, 2000, on the WB network, "Prodigal" marked season one, episode 15 of the supernatural comedy drama. Julie Benz, who played Angel's sire, Darla, in several early episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reprises the role in the flashback scenes in this episode. Darla would later become a recurring character after being resurrected by Wolfram & Hart in "To Shanshu in L.A." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Christian Kane, who appeared as an unnamed Wolfram & Hart attorney in "City of Angels," makes the first of several return appearances here; his character's name is revealed to be Lindsey McDonald. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Spike (James Marsters) reveals his feelings for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) when she comes to him for information on what it's like when a slayer dies. A brush with her own mortality ignites Buffy's curiosity and she realizes that only Spike, who has killed two previous slayers, will be able to sate it. When she offers the neutered vampire cash for his life story, he happily obliges: William, a terrible poet in the London of 1880, tries to court beautiful Cecily Addams (Kali Rocha) but finds acceptance only from Drusilla (Juliet Landau), the alluring but insane vampire who later sires him. Rampaging across the planet with Darla (Julie Benz), Angelus (David Boreanaz), and Dru, William comes into his own and renames himself Spike. His flamboyant carnage annoys the low-profile Angelus, who warns Spike that one day a slayer will get the best of him. Now fixated on slayers, Spike kills a Chinese Chosen One (Ming Liu) during the Boxer Rebellion, earning extravagant praise from Drusilla. A mere 75 years later, on a subway in New York, he finally bags his second slayer (April Weeden-Washington), this one a Foxy Brown-style heroine from whose corpse he collects his now-signature black leather trench coat. Dru remains his inamorata throughout these adventures, but in 1998 she leaves him, disgusted by his truce with Buffy (see "Becoming, Part 2"). In the present day, Spike counsels Buffy that he was able to kill both slayers only because their constant proximity to death left them eager, finally, to feel its peaceful embrace. He tells Buffy that when she's ready he will kill her, then he tries to kiss her. She recoils, tells him he's beneath her, and leaves him sobbing. Later, however, after learning her mother has once again been hospitalized, Buffy stiffly allows Spike to console her. Originally broadcast November 14, 2000, on the WB network, "Fool for Love" marked episode 85 of the cult-favorite series. The subsequent episode "Hell's Bells" would hint strongly that Halfrek, the vengeance demon played by Kali Rocha, is the same person as Cecily Addams, the human she portrays here. And although she would be played by a different actress, this episode's unnamed Blaxploitation slayer would resurface unexpectedly in "First Date." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
At Ronald Reagan High School, the power elite clique consists of Courtney Shane (Rose McGowan), Julie Freeman (Rebecca Gayheart), Marcie Fox (Julie Benz), and Liz Purr (Charlotte Roldan). The four girls control the school through a combination of beauty, sex, and intimidation. Of the four, only Liz is actually liked by the less fortunate members of the student body, and Liz is also the only one who can keep Courtney, the vicious group leader, in check. Unfortunately for Liz, she's also the only thing keeping Courtney from becoming prom queen. To achieve her goal, Courtney convinces Marcie and Julie to kidnap Liz on her 17th birthday and force her to eat until she's too fat to win. The three sneak into Liz's house, tie her up, stick a jawbreaker in her mouth, and gag her to keep her quiet before they throw her into the trunk of a car. Once they decide to free her, though, they find Liz has choked to death. Courtney decides not to go to the police; her brilliant idea is to take the body back home and create a death scene where Liz is strangled during kinky sex. Predictably, the girls screw it up, and they end up with a witness, social outcast Fern Mayo (Judy Greer). To buy her silence, Courtney draws her into the clique, transforming much more than just her outward appearance. The identity of Fern disappears, to be replaced by the very popular Vylette. In parallel to the rise of Vylette, we witness Julie's descent. Overcome with guilt over Liz's death, Julie drops out of the clique, and without the veil of protection from the others, she is now a target of abuse throughout the school. Courtney's ordeal has just begun as Vylette now challenges her for prom queen and Julie, with the help of another outcast, Zach (Chad Christ), now wants to reveal the truth behind Liz's death. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, (more)
- 1998
Acathla, a demon turned to stone by an ancient knight, is dug up during the construction of a new housing project. Angel (David Boreanaz) steals Acathla in hopes of using the demon for the stultifyingly original purpose of opening a portal to Hell. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) discover the disk Jenny (Robia La Morte) saved the spell to restore Angel's soul on (see "Passion"). Despite Giles' (Anthony Stewart Head) protestations, Willow readies herself to cast the spell. Unexpectedly, Kendra (Bianca Lawson) shows up with the blessed sword of the knight who turned Acathla to stone. Soon, Angel lures Buffy away from the library and Drusilla (Juliet Landau) leads an attack to capture Giles. Subsequently, Kendra is killed. As this is the first part of the second season finale, the episode is peppered with flashbacks to other episodes highlighting important events, such as Darla (Julie Benz) siring Angel in "Angel." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1997
Ostensibly picking up where the movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer left off, episode one finds the vampire-stiffing Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her mother, Joyce (Kristine Sutherland), recently moved from Los Angeles to the ironically named suburb of Sunnydale, CA. During her first day at Sunnydale High School, Buffy meets a group of people who will define the course of her new life. Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), a popular girl at school, proffers her friendship by testing Buffy's "coolness factor." "James Spader?" Cordelia inquires. "He needs to call me," replies Buffy, without missing a beat. But Cordelia is soon dismayed when Buffy begins hanging out with the shy computer nerd Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), her friend Xander Harris ( Nicholas Brendon), and his buddy Jesse (Eric Balfour). Also among her new acquaintances is the school librarian, the very British Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), who just happens to be Buffy's Watcher, a sort of guidance counselor for vampire slayers. Giles informs Buffy that the earth is much older than commonly accepted and was once populated by demons and vampires; only vestiges of the great evil still exist. Through Giles, we also learn that after every slayer dies, another is born to take her place, and 17-year-old Buffy is the Chosen One. That night, Buffy meets the enigmatic and mysterious Angel (David Boreanaz), who warns her that Sunnydale is located on the Hellmouth -- a kind of mecca for demons and vampires of all sorts -- and the accompanying "Harvest," when vampires will attempt to take over the earth, is soon approaching. Buffy is resistant to donning her mantle as the Slayer, unaware that in catacombs beneath Sunnydale, the Master (Mark Metcalf) -- a very old and powerful vampire, trapped for 60 years underground -- is now being awakened by his minion Luke (Brian Thompson) to be set free by the Harvest. Originally aired on March 10, 1996, "Welcome to the Hellmouth" is part one of the show's two-part pilot episode. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1997
Episode seven of the series is a landmark for Buffy-philes in that it is the first episode where Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Angel (David Boreanaz) kiss. An enigmatic, if peripheral character up until this point, Angel stakes his claim as a full-time cast member by revealing his secret: He is a vampire, the ultimate outsider, a James Dean with fangs -- and Buffy wants him. That is, until she catches him putting a Dracula-hold on her mom -- bite marks and all. It becomes clear that Buffy's mom was actually bitten by the evil Darla (Julie Benz) and saved by Angel. After confronting him, Buffy learns Angel's story: Darla "sired" him (turned him into a vampire) some 240 years earlier, becoming his lover. Later, after killing a gypsy woman, Angel had a curse put on him by the woman's family, restoring his soul. Since then, he's walked the earth, trying to amend his evil vampiric ways. As if he hadn't already proven his undying love to Buffy, Angel puts a fine point on it by staking Darla. This seminal Buffy episode ends at a Sunnydale High dance where Buffy and Angel -- all too aware that theirs is a forbidden and doomed love -- share a slow dance and another kiss. Buffy's crucifix leaves a cross burned into Angel's neck, and a lump in the audience's throats. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1997
The sixth TV-movie spinoff of the popular family series The Waltons, A Walton Easter manages to reunite all of the surviving cast members--and in so doing, unintentionally reveals why several of those performers hadn't been doing much acting recently. Throwing the orginal series' chronology to the four winds, executvie producer Earl Hamner Jr. would have us believe that the 40th wedding anniversary of John and Olivia Walton (Ralph Waite, Michael Learned) is taking place in the year 1969, which doesn't quite explain how the couple managed to have all those teenaged offspring back in the late 1930s. Once we're past this inconsistency, the story boils down to the Easter reunion of the family at Walton Mountain in West Virginia--and more specifically, the return to the fold of John-Boy Walton (Richard Thomas), now a successful TV news anchorman in New York. John-Boy has not only brought along his pregnant wife Janet (Kate McNeil), but also Aurora Jameson (Sydney Walsh), a Time magazine photojournalist who is covering the reunion. Gradually, the various intrigues of the other Waltons are shunted to the background as the film's Big Question raises its head: Will John-Boy return to New York with his city-bred wife Janet, or will he sentimentally choose to remain at Walton Mountain...with someone else by his side? A Walton Easter debuted March 30, 1997 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, (more)
- 1996
Cory (Ben Savage) and Shawn (Rider Strong) intend to take advantage of the fact that Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) has given the key to his cabin in the Poconos to Alan (William Russ) and Amy (Betsy Randle). Getting their mitts on the precious key, the boys sneak off to the cabin with plans of having a special skiing weekend with a pair a cute girls. Unfortunately, their only company turns out to be Mr. Feeny himself. Meanwhile, Eric (Will Friedle) and Frankie (Ethan Suplee) square off in the longest billiard game in recorded history--15 hours, to be exact! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Ken Olandt stars as Steven Falcon in this science fiction thriller. In the future, criminals are confined to a virtual prison which controls their minds, but when something goes wrong in the mainframe, it's up to Falcon to keep all hell -- and all the crooks -- from breaking loose. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Olandt, Julie Benz, (more)
- 1996
In the second episode of the series, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and friends Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon), Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), and Watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) band together to stop a group of vampires from fulfilling an ancient prophecy called "The Harvest." The Harvest will allow Luke (Brian Thompson), a vampire supernaturally connected to The Master (Mark Metcalf) -- a very old, powerful, and angry vampire -- to feed on humans and thereby give him strength. The Master, viewers learn, was imprisoned in catacombs underneath Sunnydale 60 years earlier by an earthquake while attempting to open the Hellmouth, and is trapped underground until The Harvest is complete. When Luke sends some vampires out for food, they subsequently capture Xander's buddy Jesse and use him as bait to lure Buffy into a trap. Buffy, who now understands her destiny to be the Slayer, dutifully chases after Jesse. Buffy and Xander find Jesse in the catacombs only to realize that he has already been turned into a vampire. Meanwhile, Luke and his vampires are attacking all the club-going teens at The Bronze to fulfill The Harvest prophecy. Buffy and her cohorts come to the rescue just in time to stop them, during which Xander accidentally kills Jesse. Most of the vampires (including Luke) are killed, but Darla (Julie Benz), a vampire who figures heavily in future episodes, gets away. Originally aired on March 10, 1996, "The Harvest" is the second half of the two-part pilot episode. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1994
A new auto plant is slated to be built on the site of the Polk High School Football Field. Rather than stand by and watch as the site of his gridiron triumphs is bulldozed into oblivion, Al (Ed O'Neill) stages a protest. Meanwhile, Al's daughter Kelly (Christina Applegate), in her professional guise as The Verminator, tests out the new "Springtime in Baghdad" pesticide on Bud (David Faustino) and Buck--with some fascinating side effects (among them an emormous pair of male breasts). Appearing as Sascha is future Buffy the Vampire Slayer regular Julie Benz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Two well-known directors each adapt stories by Edgar Allen Poe in this horror drama. George Romero's "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" tells how the wife of an elderly, wealthy man and her lover--who also happens to be the husband's private physician--scheme to control his assets. Dying before they can carry out their plans, his soul is caught between life and death while they freeze the body to finish their work. In the Dario Argento-directed "The Black Cat" a crime photographer, known for his photos' gruesome content, kills his girlfriend's titular pet and then his girlfriend. Soon he gets a good look at what he's done. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrienne Barbeau, E.G. Marshall, (more)
