Buffy (Kristy Swanson) is a high school cheerleader who discovers from an ancient guru (Donald Sutherland) that she’s the latest in a series of girls fated to slay vampires, with the aid of acrobatic kicks, pirouettes, and wooden stakes (1992). In the middle 60s this would have been a beach-blanket comedy. The direction of Fran Rubel Kuzui (Tokyo Pop) suggests that she’s more comfortable with character than action, and Joss Whedon’s script has some fun with Valley talk (both genuine and ersatz) but strains to sell the story. Paul Reubens (the former Pee-wee Herman) and Rutger Hauer camp it up as vampires, Luke Perry provides romantic interest, and Michele Abrams, Hilary Swank, and Paris Vaughan provide the teenage backup. 86 min. (JR)