Every few years, a secret society in New Zealand hosts a special event called ‘The Unholy Masquerade’. This year, in the month leading up to the ball, a documentary crew is granted full access to a small group of this society. Each crew member is allowed to wear a crucifix and is provided with protection. Prepare to witness a movie unlike any other.
The film starts by introducing its characters. Firstly, we meet Viago (played by Taika Waititi), who is three hundred seventy-nine years old. He wakes up at 6 PM and has a morning routine that involves getting his flatmates up. Viago is quite particular about things and often nags his roommates to keep the house in order. We see his interactions with other household members, including Petyr (Ben Fransham), who is at least eight thousand years old. Given his age, Petyr tends to keep to himself and has a rather creepy demeanour.
Then there’s Deacon (Jonny Brugh), who is one hundred eighty-three years old. He is rebellious and often engages in outrageous antics, acting like the group’s bad boy. Lastly, we have Vladislav (Jemaine Clement), who is eight hundred years old. To put it mildly, Vladislav is quite the character—a charming gentleman who particularly enjoys torturing others. As you might have guessed, all of these characters are vampires!
As this mockumentary progresses, you will get to see interactions among vampires at home, their attempts to gain entry into various clubs, and their interactions with other vampires out on the town. During the night, these vampires often seek out new victims, luring them back to their homes, where they are brutally killed. However, when they target Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer), the dynamics within the house become more complex and challenging when Nick is also transformed into a vampire.
For those who may not know, What We Do in the Shadows is a comedy. Due to its mockumentary style, it can also be classified as a documentary parody. Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement directed the film, and they were also the main writers.
The concept of a documentary crew following housemates who are vampires is a brilliant idea for a film and one that has never been explored in cinema before. The movie is filled with witty one-liners and playful jokes. For example, one housemate complains that no one ever cleans the bloody dishes when, in reality, all the dishes have blood on them. Additionally, since they are vampires, they cannot see their reflections, which leads them to draw their portrayals on paper to show how well-groomed they are before heading out. No matter how often I watch this film, it makes me laugh and smile as if I’m seeing it for the first time. The comedy is exceptionally well-crafted in every aspect.
The film’s plot is straightforward, but it is entertaining to watch these vampires navigate their daily lives, facing various issues, disagreements, and challenges. The humour is effective, mainly as the film showcases both the advantages of living as the undead and the drawbacks that come with it. Additionally, the movie has a brisk runtime, with no scene lingering too long. There’s always something happening, and each scene introduces a new gag or clever situation for the main characters to tackle.
Overall, What We Do in the Shadows is an incredibly clever film that feels fresh and introduces new concepts and ideas rarely explored in cinema. The humour is outstanding, featuring well-timed delivery, snappy dialogue, and brilliant comedic performances. If you’ve ever wondered what life would be like for a vampire living in the modern world, this film gives you an entertaining glimpse into that scenario. It’s a must-watch!
What We Do in the Shadows (2014) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Madman Entertainment!
FILM SCORE: FINESSE!
Published: 16th November 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
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