FilmSnobReviews

Title:  What We Do in the Shadows
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Director: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement
Starring: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Jonathon Brugh
Runtime: 1 hr 26 mins

What It Is: A send up of what it would be like if four vampires from very different time periods. Our four creatures of the night are Viago (Waititi) an 18th century British aristocrat in life, Deacon (Brugh) who was formerly a Nazi during World War II, Vlad (probably a send up of Dracula) was a ruler of his land known as Vlad the Poker, and lastly Petyr an 8,000 year old vamp who turned most of these guys into their undead states. We are living this world through a mockumentary style and it’s as thought we’re living with four vampires in their everyday life around New Zealand.

What We Think: Smart in it’s humor and better then you’d think for a film of this nature it is the relationships between the vampires that really makes this thing move. Waititi and Clement take their characters to the next level and their decadence works here. There’s a plethora of guest appearances from the Flight of the Conchords which Waititi and Clement are also known as. It’s a solid little comedy that had it’s moments of pure hilarity, there is a particular exchange between our heroes and a group of werewolves that’s very funny.

Our Grade: A-, What a fantastic little movie. I would say definitely see this one in a theater near you when it drops February 13th. Not only are the performance riotous, but they really show off the comedic chops to an American audience who despite the fact that the show runs in the U.S. might be unfamiliar with Flight of the Conchords. Not too much else can be said that won’t ruin the spectacular film.