What We Do in the Shadows

I’m gonna keep this one short because there isn’t really a lot to analyse or criticize about this movie.

What We Do in the Shadows is the hilarious mock-umentary by Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Concords fame and his long time friend Taiki Waititi who recently-ish directed Thor: Ragnarok and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. These guys are simply hilarious and I think for what this movie is, it’s pretty perfect.

Following a group of vampire friends this movie makes all the jokes you want it to make about vampires, but really my favorite part is when you kinda forget they are vampires. One of the earliest and one of my favorite is when the main characters have a flat meeting. Taika Waititi’s “Viago” is chastising Johnny Brugh’s “Deacon” for “not doing the bloody dishes,” just for the camera to pan to, literally blood stained dishes. It is such a simple obvious joke but I think that’s what makes it so clever, and pretty much every joke is at least as clever.

Besides the jokes though the acting, effects, and cinematography are fantastic as well and actually play a very large role in how jokes land. Blood violently spurting from someones neck at one point may be my favorite. There are some obvious “hidden” cuts during action scenes, but other than those all the special effects are great, believable, and really fun too.

I really don’t want to spoil any more jokes though because they are all so good, and presented really well so I’m just gonna say, watch this movie it’s very funny. I think you would especially enjoy it if you enjoy shows like The Office, or Flight of the Concords, or just enjoy dry humor in general, despite the humor in this being rather soaked with blood.

This movie really is perfect for what it is, but I just can’t bring myself to give it a higher score. I love comedies, but they just don’t impact me as much as more serious films. I know a movie is a 9 or 10 if I can’t stop thinking about it (in a good way) and that just really never happens for me with pure comedies. It’s funny while it’s on but after that it’s over for me, and that’s fine, but I think a 9 or 10 movie should be an important movie, and maybe if this was the first mock-umentary it would be a 9 or 10 since it would be so revolutionary.

As it stands though this movie is phenomenal and certainly worth your time to watch it.

8/10