What We Do In The Shadows is a mockumentary showing us the lives of four vampires living in a share house in Wellington.
Taika Waititi is Viago, a 379-year-old ‘dandy’ vampire, and the main focus for the film’s crew. He shows us around his home and introduces us to his mates – Vladislav, the 800-odd-year-old Don Juan of the gang; Peter, an ‘old-school’ vampire who lives in a tomb in the basement and is 8,000; and Deacon, the young one of the group at 183.
The gang hangs about at night, hitting the local Wellington clubs, and finds victims via Jackie, its human medium-cum-slave. When Jackie brings along ex-boyfriend Nick to a ‘dinner party’, Nick becomes the meal – and ends up the newest vampire of the gang. When the boys begin to dislike his new style – and become far better mates with his human bestie Stu – Nick is shunned from the house and starts to question if being a vampire is everything it’s cracked up to be.
This is a hilarious piss-take on all things vampire-related at the moment, as well as a great satire on share house living in any era. Waititi wrote and directed the film along with Flight Of The Conchords’ Jemaine Clement, who is almost unrecognizable as Vladislav. The two have found an excellent middle ground between slapstick and highbrow comedy, and bridge them perfectly. Rhys Darby’s cameo as the leader of the local werewolf crew is priceless, as are the showdowns between the two mythological gangs. This is a definite must-see for anyone who likes their humour sharp and more than a bit weird.
4/5 stars
What We Do In The Shadows is in cinemas from Thursday September 5.
