Four vampires living in New Zealand, Deacom, Viago, Vladislav, and the ancient Nosferatu-like Peter share an apartment and try to fit into modern day society. But there is that pesky cultural disconnect from being hundreds, or in Peter's case, thousands of years old. A camera crew follows the bloodsuckers around, and documents the trials and tribulations of the quartet, their newly minted fanged friend Nick, and his human pal, the mild mannered and affable Stu.
Shot as a documentary, cinema verite style, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS could have easily devolved into a one note joke, but co-directors/co-writers/co-stars Jemaine Clement and Taika David Waititi mine the depths of the horror genre with a respect and knowledge that is astute and clever. You may have seen them work together, mainly as actors, in films like EAGLE VS. SHARK and shows like FLIGHT OF CONCHORDS, and tonally WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS dwells in the same territory. ironic, without being too hipster, referential, while being respectful of the tropes they are poking fun at. This movie shows a lot of love for the vampire genre, and when a rival gang of werewolves comes into play, you know you're in the hands of people who truly love this stuff.
I was lucky enough to see it at last years Sundance Film festival, where it was received quite well. It has still to find a US theatrical release, but trust me...if you are a fan of classic monsters and pointed comedies, you'll want to seek this out.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
~Sean Smithson
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