Review - What We Do in the Shadows

“What We Do in the Shadows” is here to save the average movie-goer from sitting through another film adaptation of a young adult novel. It feels like every new movie that comes out of Hollywood now is a sequel or prequel to another film or based on a book. People seem to view this as a sign that film studios are beginning to run out of ideas.

“What We Do in the Shadows” is a recently released comedy horror film from New Zealand. The film follows the shenanigans of a group of vampires who live together and attempt to navigate the modern world. Witty dark humor and a mockumentary approach to the filming are what make “What We Do in the Shadows” one of the funniest movies of the year.

Trailer for "What We Do in the Shadows"

Viewers may recognize one of the writers, directors, and stars of the film as Jemaine Clement from the HBO comedy series “Flight of the Conchords.” Fans of that show will find the comedic timing and style of “What We Do in the Shadows” to be a bit familiar, but in the best possible way. The jokes in this film feel instantly recognizable without being boring or predictable. Regardless of whether someone has seen “Flight of the Conchords,” most people will be laughing 30 seconds into “What We Do in the Shadows” and probably won’t stop laughing until the very end of the movie. 

Clement explained in an interview why the film is about vampires. "Just kind of the sex appeal and everything about them," he said. "It's very sexy, very classic."

The film pokes fun at the growing popularity of vampires that has occurred within pop culture in the last decade or so. Most people expect sexy vampires from film and TV now, like the ones in “Twilight” and “True Blood,” but the characters in “What We Do in the Shadows” are much closer to Dracula than Edward Cullen. One character, Petyr (played by Ben Fransham), strongly resembles Count Orlok from “Nosferatu.” The filmmakers treat the audience with respect and realize that people will understand a reference to another movie, TV show, or book.

Another successful aspect of the film is that it manages to be morbid and hilarious at the same time. There are moments when you simply don’t know if you should be scared or laughing or both.

The characters stand out in their own ways. Viago (played by Taika Waititi) is the responsible member of the group, always making sure that other vampires put towels and newspapers down on the floor and furniture before sucking the blood of a victim. Deacon (played by Jonathan Brough) is 183 years old, and is regarded as the young and wild vampire. These are just a few examples of some memorable characters that the writers were able to create.


The film garnered critical acclaim upon release. Chris Tilly of ign.com said, "'What We Do in the Shadows' is wonderfully good-natured in spite of the fact that its protagonists are cold-blooded killers. And with the performances note-perfect, the characters rich, and the gag-to-laugh ratio high, it may well be the funniest movie of the year."


The only place the film seems to falter is in the final act. The main problem with it is that it doesn’t really end. A few plot lines are resolved, but it doesn’t feel like closure. The ending felt so sudden that it was kind of jarring when the credits began to roll. 

The movie as a whole is well executed and very, very funny. There isn’t a single joke that falls flat, and the mockumentary approach is utilized to the fullest extent. Viewers who keep up with pop culture will find this movie to be especially fresh and entertaining. What these guys do in the shadows will have every person in the theater laughing out loud.   

At a glance:

STARRING: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Jonathan Brugh DIRECTOR: Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement WRITER: Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement PRODUCTION: Unison Films, Defender Films, Funny or Die, New Zealand Film Commission GENRE: Mockumentary, Comedy, Horror RATED: NR OVERALL RATING: 4 stars  

"What We Do in the Shadows" is currently playing at Darkside Cinema in Corvallis.

Mark Urista Motivates LBCC Students with the Communication Focus Award

A skill that college students should have, regardless of major or career goals, is the ability to successfully communicate with others. It's the reason students are required to take at least one communication class.

However, the importance of excellent communication goes beyond this requirement. Communication skills have become a major attribute that employers look at when hiring new employees.

Communication Department Chair Mark Urista knows how important it is to develop these skills.

"Preparing students for success after college is a top priority for our department," he said.

In light of how increasingly relevant good communication skills have become in the job market, the Communication Department has created a new award for students to earn.

The Communication Focus Award is a new honor being given to students by the Communication Department. The award acknowledges the hard work of students who have earned grades of B or better in Comm 111(Public Speaking), Comm 112 (Intro. to Persuasion), and Comm 218 (Interpersonal Communication). The award will serve to help students advance their goals for the future.

The point of the award is to motivate students to invest in their own futures.

"This award encourages students to take a series of classes that will help them develop the soft skills employers are looking for in the people they hire," said Urista. "The award also provides recipients with tangible proof that they have developed these highly sought after skills."

Many skeptics might see this award as nothing more than something nice and shinny to put on a resume. They wouldn't be wrong.

"I thought it would look good on a resume," said Connilyn Hursh, an LBCC student and recipient of the Communication Focus Award.

Hursh also recognizes the greater value the award carries than just looking good on a resume.

"Having the experience under my belt has given me a lot of confidence in my future career paths," she said. "Communication is key."

Another student, Grant Guernsey, has included the award on resumes and applications.

"I'm applying for pro school for the marketing program at Oregon State. It was really cool to put down an awesome award on my resume," he said.

Guernsey also sees the potential this award holds for him beyond career goals.

"Going into my freshman year of college I didn't get to do to much public speaking," he said. "Once I took Comm 111 and 112 I was way more comfortable and basically diminished the whole fear of speaking in front of people."

The benefits of this award are already being realized by many students who have received it, and the greater impact may yet to be seen.

While this award definitely looks good on a resume, the skills and tenacity it instills in the students who work to earn it will be longer lasting than a piece of paper listing prior job experience.  

At a glance

• Mark Urista is an LBCC Communication professor. For more information about the Communication Focus Award, email him at uristam@linnbenton.edu. 
• Go to linnbenton.edu to register for Comm 111, Comm 112, and Comm 218 to complete the requirements for the award.