What We Do in the Shadows by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi is the best mockumentary I have seen since ‘This is Spinal Tap’. I laughed the whole way through. The absurdity and the awkwardness of old-school vampires sharing a flat in Wellington New Zealand is just awesome. The boys from Flight of the Concords really know their comedy.
This movie just gets everything right. Like the fact for the most part no one thinks it is strange that a camera crew is following around a group of vampires, and how the vampires are completely clueless as to how modern society works. It is a slow motion train wreck of comedy in the best possible sense. I couldn’t believe some of the gags they put on screen. Great stuff all around!
Of course this movie wouldn’t have worked without the actors’ complete commitment to being absurd, and these guys really do commit. I am not sure how they got through any of their scenes with a straight face. It must have taken them months to film What We Do in the Shadows just due to all the laugh-takes.
Most importantly this movie didn’t outlast its premises. It is short, but I think too many comedies suffer because they try and pad the running time, but What We Do in the Shadows is eighty-five minutes of fun! They only left in the really funny bits. Other comedy directors should follow their example.
Quick note, this movie does earn its ‘R’ rating with gore and some swearing, so if those things offend you be warned. For everyone else, if the thought of ‘This is Spinal Tap’ with vampires sounds funny, I can assure you that it is, and I can’t wait for the sequel ‘We’re Wolves’! Though from what I hear it may be a long wait since all of these talented fellows now find themselves ‘in demand’.