“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.
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.
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