What We Do in the Shadows (2014) is a brilliantly absurd and hilariously clever mockumentary that sinks its teeth into vampire lore and flips it upside down. Directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the film follows four vampire flatmates—Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Petyr—sharing a rundown house in modern-day Wellington, New Zealand. Although they're centuries old, their biggest struggles aren’t slaying mortals or avoiding sunlight—it's paying rent, doing chores, and navigating modern society without revealing their dark secret.
Shot in documentary style, the film humorously explores the mundane daily lives of the undead. Viago is a dandy from the 18th century who obsesses over tidiness, Vladislav is a former tyrant with a fading seductive charm, Deacon is a rebellious vampire who refuses to do his share of housework, and Petyr is a Nosferatu-like elder who lives in the basement. When they turn a new human victim, Nick, into a vampire, chaos and comedy follow as he struggles with his transformation—and introduces them to modern technology.
What We Do in the Shadows stands out for its perfect blend of horror and comedy, satirizing vampire clichés while making its characters oddly relatable. Behind the fangs and capes are just four roommates trying to coexist while dealing with eternal life and the occasional blood-soaked mess. The film is both smart and silly, poking fun at centuries of vampire mythology while celebrating the genre with affection and originality.
Beyond its comedy, the film subtly explores themes of friendship, loneliness, and adapting to change—even if you’re hundreds of years old. With deadpan performances, sharp writing, and memorable scenes, it quickly became a cult classic and launched a successful spin-off TV series of the same name.
Whether you're a horror fan or a comedy lover, What We Do in the Shadows is a fresh, hilarious take on undead life that proves immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—especially when you have to argue about dishes for 300 years.
