What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Stars: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonny Brugh
Runtime: 86 minutes
Synopsis: Viago, Deacon and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane - like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs and overcoming flatmate conflicts.
Performances: 5/5
Screenplay: 4/5
Special Effects: 4/5
Costumes/Makeup: 4/5
Editing: 3/5
Cinematography: 3/5
Score/Soundtrack: 4/5
Entertainment Factor: 4/5
Verdict: "What We Do in the Shadows" is an absolute gem of a comedy and the film that put Taika Waititi on the map.
The 2014 Kiwi mockumentary follows a group of vampire roommates, each inspired by a different historical vampire (Nosferatu, Dracula, or Edward Cullen), as they attempt to adapt to modern life in the city. Starring co-directors Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, I strongly believe that "What We Did in the Shadows" is one of the funniest comedies of the past decade. Not only is it a believable depiction of traditional vampires adapting to the modern world, but it's also filled with outrageous and hilarious jokes enhanced by the excellent comedic timing and chemistry of the actors. The mockumentary aspect, while a little sloppy at times, adds a lot to the awkwardly realistic nature of the horror-comedy as it humanizes the characters by making them indirectly interact with the audience.
However, if you remove the comedic elements from the film and look at it with a more critical eye, you can't help but notice a few irregularities when it comes to the filmmaking aspects. The mockumentary logic is not always respected, there's quite a bit of exposition, and some character decisions are a little too convenient and far-fetched. I found these issues to be a little distracting at times but at the end of the day, I laughed a lot and that's all that matters.
I'm aware that the film was not directed by Waititi alone, but it remains my favorite movie of his. It's an incredibly easy comedy to fall in love with, so I strongly recommend checking it out.
The 2014 Kiwi mockumentary follows a group of vampire roommates, each inspired by a different historical vampire (Nosferatu, Dracula, or Edward Cullen), as they attempt to adapt to modern life in the city. Starring co-directors Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, I strongly believe that "What We Did in the Shadows" is one of the funniest comedies of the past decade. Not only is it a believable depiction of traditional vampires adapting to the modern world, but it's also filled with outrageous and hilarious jokes enhanced by the excellent comedic timing and chemistry of the actors. The mockumentary aspect, while a little sloppy at times, adds a lot to the awkwardly realistic nature of the horror-comedy as it humanizes the characters by making them indirectly interact with the audience.
However, if you remove the comedic elements from the film and look at it with a more critical eye, you can't help but notice a few irregularities when it comes to the filmmaking aspects. The mockumentary logic is not always respected, there's quite a bit of exposition, and some character decisions are a little too convenient and far-fetched. I found these issues to be a little distracting at times but at the end of the day, I laughed a lot and that's all that matters.
I'm aware that the film was not directed by Waititi alone, but it remains my favorite movie of his. It's an incredibly easy comedy to fall in love with, so I strongly recommend checking it out.
FINAL GRADE: 7/10
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