What We Do in the Shadows is a New Zealand mockumentary that blends horror, comedy, and a quirky sense of realism. Directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, the film follows the lives of a group of vampire flatmates living in Wellington, New Zealand. This cult hit is packed with dark humor, hilarious vampire tropes, and some surprising heartfelt moments.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: Meet the Vampires
The film is presented as a documentary crew following four vampire roommates:
- Viago (Taika Waititi): The fastidious, well-mannered dandy from the 18th century.
- Vladislav (Jemaine Clement): A former tyrant nicknamed “Vlad the Poker,” known for his “dark bidding.”
- Deacon (Jonathan Brugh): The bad-boy rebel and youngest of the group at 183 years old.
- Petyr (Ben Fransham): An ancient Nosferatu-style vampire who is over 8,000 years old and lives in the basement.
We’re introduced to their daily lives, which include petty roommate disputes (like who’s responsible for cleaning the blood-stained dishes), their struggle to dress fashionably without reflections, and awkward attempts at finding victims for their meals.
The Arrival of Nick
Things change when the group meets Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer), a human who they attempt to eat but ends up being turned into a vampire by Petyr. Nick’s transformation disrupts the dynamic of the house. He embraces his new powers with reckless abandon and quickly gets on everyone’s nerves by revealing their vampire identity to anyone he meets.
Nick also introduces his human friend, Stu (Stu Rutherford), who becomes beloved by the vampires despite being, you know, alive. Stu teaches them modern technology like smartphones and the internet, drastically changing their undead lives.
The Unholy Masquerade
The film’s main event is the Unholy Masquerade, an annual gathering of Wellington’s supernatural beings—vampires, zombies, witches, and other creatures. The event turns chaotic when it’s revealed that Nick told a vampire hunter about their existence, putting everyone at risk.
The Masquerade leads to a confrontation between Vladislav and his ex, The Beast, and a showdown that ends with Nick narrowly escaping a lethal fate, thanks to Stu’s accidental heroics.
Vampire-Werewolf Tension
The group’s encounters with a local pack of werewolves add another layer of humor. Led by the overly polite alpha wolf, Anton (Rhys Darby), the werewolves constantly attempt to control their primal urges. Their rivalry with the vampires results in some memorable scenes, including a hilarious street standoff.
Movie Ending
The film concludes with the vampires narrowly surviving the consequences of Nick’s carelessness. Stu, despite being human, is attacked by werewolves, only to be turned into one himself. The final scene depicts a surprising moment of peace between the vampires and werewolves, as the two groups bond over their shared supernatural existences. Viago also reconnects with his long-lost love, Katherine, now elderly, highlighting the movie’s mix of absurdity and genuine emotional beats.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes! There is a brief post-credits scene where Deacon hypnotizes the audience and tells them to forget everything they’ve seen. It’s a fun little gag that fits the film’s irreverent tone.
Type of Movie
This is a mockumentary-style horror-comedy that blends supernatural elements with deadpan humor. The film uses the format of a documentary to explore the mundane and ridiculous aspects of being a vampire, offering a fresh take on the vampire genre.
Cast
- Taika Waititi as Viago
- Jemaine Clement as Vladislav
- Jonathan Brugh as Deacon
- Cori Gonzalez-Macuer as Nick
- Stu Rutherford as Stu
- Ben Fransham as Petyr
- Rhys Darby as Anton (Werewolf Alpha)
Film Music and Composer
The soundtrack features a mix of eerie and humorous tracks, complementing the film’s tone. The score was composed by Plan 9 (New Zealand composers), known for balancing quirky themes with gothic undertones.
Filming Locations
The film was shot primarily in Wellington, New Zealand, which plays a critical role in adding to the mockumentary’s “real-world” feel. Wellington’s everyday, laid-back vibe contrasts with the vampires’ supernatural lives, making their existence feel even more absurd.
Awards and Nominations
- Toronto International Film Festival: Won the People’s Choice Award (Midnight Madness).
- New Zealand Film and TV Awards: Won Best Self-Funded Film.
- Nominated for several satirical and genre-based awards, including Best Horror-Comedy.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- The film was largely improvised, with the actors given basic plot outlines but encouraged to improvise their dialogue.
- Stu Rutherford was originally a part-time actor and IT technician who was told he’d play a small, background role. His character became a fan favorite, and he ended up with much more screen time.
- The special effects were purposefully kept low-budget and quirky, adding to the film’s charm.
Inspirations and References
The film draws inspiration from classic vampire lore, referencing everything from Dracula to more modern interpretations like Twilight. It also riffs on vampire tropes, such as eternal love, blood-drinking rituals, and the inability to enter a house without an invitation.
The mockumentary format is inspired by films like This Is Spinal Tap, using deadpan humor to explore absurd situations.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There aren’t any major alternate endings, but there are numerous deleted scenes and extended takes from the improvisational shooting process. Some of these can be found on the DVD/Blu-ray extras, where the filmmakers discuss jokes that didn’t make the cut but were still hilarious.
Book Adaptations and Differences
What We Do in the Shadows is not based on a book, though it did spawn a successful TV series of the same name, expanding on the film’s universe with new characters and storylines.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The flatmate meeting about chore duties, specifically the “bloody dishes.”
- Viago’s awkward feeding scene, where he tries to drink from a victim but ends up making a huge mess.
- The vampire-werewolf standoff, ending with Anton’s famous line: “We’re werewolves, not swearwolves!”
- The Unholy Masquerade, where everything goes hilariously wrong.
Iconic Quotes
- Vladislav: “Leave me to do my dark bidding on the internet!”
- Viago: “Some of our clothes are from victims. We might bite someone and then you think, ‘Ooh, those are some nice pants!'”
- Deacon: “I think we drink virgin blood because it sounds cool.”
- Anton: “We’re werewolves, not swearwolves!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Vladislav’s character is loosely based on Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure who inspired Dracula.
- When the vampires look through their old paintings and relics, some of them are direct nods to classic vampire films, such as Nosferatu.
- The werewolf transformation scenes are a subtle parody of films like An American Werewolf in London.
Trivia
- The film was shot over 5 weeks with a relatively small budget, making its success even more impressive.
- Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi also made a short film of the same concept in 2005, which laid the groundwork for the feature film.
- Taika Waititi modeled Viago’s mannerisms after his own mother.
Why Watch?
This film is a must-watch for fans of horror-comedy, blending clever writing with vampire mythology. Its deadpan humor and quirky take on the lives of supernatural beings make it an incredibly unique viewing experience.
Director’s Other Movies
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Jojo Rabbit (2019)
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
- Boy (2010)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Shaun of the Dead (2004)
- The Lost Boys (1987)
- This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
- Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)
