WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2014) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Taika Waitini, Jemaine Clement

Written by - Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi

Starring - Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh

"Mockumentary about a group of vampire housemates, which follows its subjects in their ordinary struggles with everyday life.

What We Do in the Shadows by Waititi and Clement is genial in its simplicity. A refreshing take on the comedy spoof genre, the film’s approach gives way to improvisation that makes the comedy seem a lot less staged and much more spontaneous. This approach also aids the different characters in naturally achieving their own distinctive characteristics through the actors’ own performances – themselves influenced by their own comedic personalities.

To add to the overall appeal are some great references to the horror genre that take up back to the good old days when vampires were gothic and cool rather than being the modern day sparkly skinned melodramatic counterparts. Structured around some very creative gags, this film is fun and entertaining.

As well as that, by the end of the film, there is also a feeling that these are characters that could easily be brought back to life in various formats, from TV to a sequel."

Comedy, New Zealand