I read Bram Stoker’s Dracula at far too young an age. The vampire mythos was as important to my childhood as Robert Munsch or Star Wars. I always appreciate it when a movie can play with that mythology, recontextualize it, and make me laugh while doing so. Last year’s excellent Only Lovers Left Alive did this perfectly. What We Do in the Shadows, a New Zealand mockumentary about four vampire flatmates, is a fun new entry to this weird subgenre.

 The roommates are all riffs on famous movie vampires. There’s a Lestat analogue (Taika Waititi), a Lost Boys-type rebel (Jonathan Brugh), a parody of Gary Oldman’s overly-sexual Dracula (Jemaine Clement) and a hilarious take on Nosferatu’s Count Orlok (Ben Fransham). A prior knowledge of these vampire films isn’t necessary to enjoy What We Do in the Shadows, but fans will appreciate it even more.

 Waititi and Clement, who also serve as co-writers and directors, abandon the overtly quirky slant of their previous collaborations (Eagle vs Shark, Flight of the Conchords). They fully commit to the visual language of vampire films, and the movie is stronger for it. 

Sadly, they don’t entirely commit to the mockumentary approach. Stylistically, it’s more Modern Family than Spinal Tap, with the documentary approach coming and going whenever it’s convenient.

 But, most importantly, What We Do in the Shadows is really funny. Its humour goes far beyond inside-baseball vampire jokes. There’s inherent humour in many roommate situations, but these four in particular have a hilarious friction. They come from disparate periods in history, and their cluelessness about 21st century life provides some big laughs. Most importantly, the actors have the comedic chops to pull it off. 

What We Do in the Shadows’s appeal shouldn’t be seen as niche. It’s a broad comedy, but it’s still smart and subtle. If you can, see it with a big audience.

Published in Volume 69, Number 24 of The Uniter (March 11, 2015)