What We Do in the Shadows
Taika Waititi (Boy) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) are the writers, directors and stars of this vampire mockumentary. Unearthing a secret, supernatural society, otherwise known as a bunch of vampire flatmates in Wellington, the film introduces a world where friendship and camaraderie are just as important as feasting upon the flesh of mortals. Based on Waititi and Clement's 2006 short film of the same name.
"Consider the living quarters of vampires, and stodgy old castles in Transylvania may come to mind. But these aren’t your typical bloodsuckers. Viago (379 years old), Deacon (183 years old), Vladislav (862 years old), and Peter (8,000 years old) have chosen to share a flat in Wellington, New Zealand. Unfortunately for them, it’s hard to make new friends due to their constant thirst for blood. Without any mortal chums left to invite them in to all of the hip establishments around town, they’ve lost touch with the current social scene. Can these creatures of the night put aside their differences as roommates and adapt to modern society?" (Sundance Film Festival)
- Director:
- Jemaine Clement (feature debut)Taika Waititi ('Boy', 'Eagle vs. Shark')
- Writer:
- Jemaine ClementTaika Waititi
- Cast:
- Jemaine ClementTaika WaititiJonathan BrughCori Gonzalez-MacuerStuart RutherfordJackie van BeekRhys DarbyKura ForresterFrank HabichtChelsie Preston-CrayfordYvette ParsonsMadeleine SamiBen Fransham
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksKiwi cinematic comedy comes of age with this winning mockumentary that fuses mass appeal with a wholly uncompromised New Zealand-ness. Beyond the pleasures of the film itself, it projects the idea of a New Zealand comedy community along the lines of the Apatow crew or the SNL gang, which enhances the proceedings to no end.
Quite a disappointment !
Just like Rhys Darby (who appropriately plays the alpha werewolf), the movie just tries to hard to be funny, and mostly fails. 9 years in the making to deliver that ... seriously ?! I admit I only saw the film recently after hearing many, many (too many) rave reviews, so I obviously had very high expectations, and they definitely were not met. I did laugh a...
‘Bloody Great’ Seems Appropriate For This Quirky Kiwi Comedy
If a vampire has been known to sleep for 2 years, then it must do a lot for their looks as this hibernation period between the filming of director Taika Waititi’s latest film What We Do In The Shadows and it’s release has brought us another delightful Kiwi-flick that is blood-suckingly good and deserves all the acclaim it has been receiving. Starring the...
Variety
pressSome genre fans who prefer the silly to the satiric may bite, but the anemic pic isn't remotely weird or witty enough for cult immortality.
Screen Daily
pressWhile unlikely to appeal to a general audience, this is a cinch for Conchords fans, documentary buffs, horror movie nuts, and all lovers of daffy, issues-free humour.
Hollywood Reporter
pressA very funny Kiwi take on vampire lore and its application to the modern world... Ace writing and comic performances ensure love from the geek sector.
FilmInk
pressThe biggest criticism is that it's so unrelentingly funny that you'll miss half the jokes through laughing.
Film Threat
pressIt shouldn't work as well as it does, but funny is funny, and this one had me cracking up often...
Flicks, Dominic Corry
flicksKiwi cinematic comedy comes of age with this winning mockumentary that fuses mass appeal with a wholly uncompromised New Zealand-ness. Beyond the pleasures of the film itself, it projects the idea of a New Zealand comedy community along the lines of the Apatow crew or the SNL gang, which enhances the proceedings to no end.
Variety
pressSome genre fans who prefer the silly to the satiric may bite, but the anemic pic isn't remotely weird or witty enough for cult immortality.
Screen Daily
pressWhile unlikely to appeal to a general audience, this is a cinch for Conchords fans, documentary buffs, horror movie nuts, and all lovers of daffy, issues-free humour.
Hollywood Reporter
pressA very funny Kiwi take on vampire lore and its application to the modern world... Ace writing and comic performances ensure love from the geek sector.
FilmInk
pressThe biggest criticism is that it's so unrelentingly funny that you'll miss half the jokes through laughing.
Film Threat
pressIt shouldn't work as well as it does, but funny is funny, and this one had me cracking up often...
Quite a disappointment !
Just like Rhys Darby (who appropriately plays the alpha werewolf), the movie just tries to hard to be funny, and mostly fails. 9 years in the making to deliver that ... seriously ?! I admit I only saw the film recently after hearing many, many (too many) rave reviews, so I obviously had very high expectations, and they definitely were not met. I did laugh...
‘Bloody Great’ Seems Appropriate For This Quirky Kiwi Comedy
If a vampire has been known to sleep for 2 years, then it must do a lot for their looks as this hibernation period between the filming of director Taika Waititi’s latest film What We Do In The Shadows and it’s release has brought us another delightful Kiwi-flick that is blood-suckingly good and deserves all the acclaim it has been receiving. Starring the...
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