What We Do In The Shadows
What We Do In The Shadows
directed and starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi
directed and starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi
Unison Films
Unison Films
If you’re like me, you’ve been vampired and zombied to death. We’ve had creepy vampire, sexy vampires, remorseful vampires, but somehow we haven’t explored the world of 200 vampires out for a good time. Vladislav, Viago, Deacon are flat mates in Wellington, New Zealand. Their alternative life style blends in with the hipster scene as they sleep days and club at night, but only if they can get the bouncers to invite them in. Just like in a 1960’s rebel teen movie there’s some bad blood on the streets as they bump into other troops of teens and monsters. The fights are all about show and the subtext is everyone’s struggle to fit into a multicultural scene of emotional conflicts.
If you’re like me, you’ve been vampired and zombied to death. We’ve had creepy vampire, sexy vampires, remorseful vampires, but somehow we haven’t explored the world of 200 vampires out for a good time. Vladislav, Viago, Deacon are flat mates in Wellington, New Zealand. Their alternative life style blends in with the hipster scene as they sleep days and club at night, but only if they can get the bouncers to invite them in. Just like in a 1960’s rebel teen movie there’s some bad blood on the streets as they bump into other troops of teens and monsters. The fights are all about show and the subtext is everyone’s struggle to fit into a multicultural scene of emotional conflicts.
The boys progress, they’ve developed the afterlife skills needed to share digs with insignificant others. Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) refuses to wash dishes, 8000 year old Petyr (Ben Fransham) is frozen in his closet and useless, while Viago (Taika Waititi) acts a as sort of house mom, brokering deals and nudging everyone to get along. When one of them turns human Nick (Cori Gonzalez Macuer) into a vampire, they become his self-help support group and teach him the etiquette of the undead.
The boys progress, they’ve developed the afterlife skills needed to share digs with insignificant others. Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) refuses to wash dishes, 8000 year old Petyr (Ben Fransham) is frozen in his closet and useless, while Viago (Taika Waititi) acts a as sort of house mom, brokering deals and nudging everyone to get along. When one of them turns human Nick (Cori Gonzalez Macuer) into a vampire, they become his self-help support group and teach him the etiquette of the undead.
The gag holds up pretty well and the film is structured like and MTV reality show. The camera seeks out individual stories as well as group dynamics; the exterior shots are nicely back lit as they roam the streets trying to be cool. Their begging for entrance into the uncool bars adds a veneer of reality as it points up the absurdity of both the film and their need for acceptance. Take your Comicon vampires, give them a real thirst for blood and a real allergy to sunlight and you’ll be pretty close to this fun if occasionally groan inducing pseudo-documentary.
The gag holds up pretty well and the film is structured like and MTV reality show. The camera seeks out individual stories as well as group dynamics; the exterior shots are nicely back lit as they roam the streets trying to be cool. Their begging for entrance into the uncool bars adds a veneer of reality as it points up the absurdity of both the film and their need for acceptance. Take your Comicon vampires, give them a real thirst for blood and a real allergy to sunlight and you’ll be pretty close to this fun if occasionally groan inducing pseudo-documentary.
