What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
★★½ — What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
What We Do in the Shadows (2014), the New Zealand mockumentary co-directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, arrives with a clever premise (vampires sharing a flat in Wellington) and a deadpan style that’s become a signature of modern comedy. On paper, it should work: centuries-old bloodsuckers bickering over chores, struggling with modern technology, and navigating supernatural bureaucracy is ripe for satire. And while the film has its moments, it never quite rises above being mildly amusing. The humour leans heavily on dry delivery and mundane situations played straight, but too often the jokes land with a thud rather than a laugh. The improvisational feel, while authentic, sometimes reads as underwritten, and the pacing drags in stretches where not much happens beyond awkwardness or repetitive squabbles. The performances are committed but uneven; Waititi and Clement bring charm, yet others feel like they’re trying too hard to be quirky rather than genuinely funny. Visually, it’s functional rather than inspired. Grainy handheld camerawork sells the mockumentary conceit, but there’s little cinematic flair to elevate it beyond TV sketch territory. And while the film clearly influenced later comedies (including its own successful TV spin-offs), the original feels slight, even disposable. What We Do in the Shadows isn’t bad, but it’s far from brilliant. It’s an average film that trades on a single idea without fully exploring its potential. If you’re already a fan of the franchise, you’ll find glimmers of what’s to come, but as a standalone movie, it’s more “meh” than memorable. Funny in places? Sure. But not enough to make you howl.
Rating: ★★½ | Year: 2014 | Watched: 2026-05-05
