What We Do In The Shadows

To say vampires have been popular in recent years is a bit of an understatement.  The success of franchises like Twilight, have seen our pointy toothed friends reappear on the big screen with a vengeance, although many would argue they lack the bite of old.  Of course, cinema has always faced these trends, whether it be zombies, werewolves or vampires, it always feels like one mythical beastie is on the top of the pile.  However, vampires seem to have been a bit under served in their current ascent of the mountain.  While I don’t harbour the dislike for Twilight that many others have, there is no denying Edward Cullen was hardly scary.  They have also yet to be spoofed in a successful way.  While zombies have been parodied so well that the RomZomCom is a recognised genre, vampires have seen themselves taken the mick out of in incredibly unimaginative ways, that were more likely to induce groans than laughter.  That is until What We Do in the Shadows came along.

Taking a mockumentry format (think Spinal Tap with the undead) What We Do in the Shadows tells the story of four vampire flatmates, living in New Zealand (where the film was made) and living normal lives, or at least normal lives for a denizen of the night.  There is Viago, the dandy who calls house meetings to discuss the dishes, Vladislav the poker, who was incredibly powerful until his battle with The Beast drained his powers, Deacon the youngest and craziest of the group and Petyr (who Buffy fans will realise bears a striking resemblance to The Master) the oldest of the group, who spends most of his time living in a tomb in the basement.  They spend their nights seducing victims, going clubbing and yet they are not entirely comfortable in the 21st century.

This film succeeds on two counts.  One, it is genuinely funny.  There are several laugh out loud moments which rival the biggest comedies of the year.  While the rest of the film is consistently amusing.  Be it the vampires engaging in a battle of wits with a group of werewolves, who in attempts to keep their cool try to refrain from swearing.  Or when Deacon’s familiar brings round two friends for dinner (literally) and the vamps torment them by making them believe their spaghetti is worms.  It’s simple and often childish, but it is done well and you’d have to be very dour indeed not to crack a smile.

Two, it never forgets to be gruesome at the same time.  These aren’t nice vampires, at least not in the abstaining from humans way.  They go out hunting and when they claim a victim the film doesn’t shirk away from the blood.  In fact, it could even be claimed it goes overboard on it, with blood gushing out of open wounds on a regular basis.  By embracing both the comic and the gory, writers Jemaine Clement (best known as one half of Flight of the Concords) and Taika Waititi, who both also act in the film, have managed to create a vampire film that ticks all the right boxes.

What We Do in the Shadows has taken the vampire trend and done something smart with it.  I am sure many will go into it with limited expectations, I can’t see many people having a great love for New Zealand comedies about vampires, and it may be something that plays to this films favour.  It is on course to be one of surprise hits of the year and in my opinion, would be well worth your time.