What We Do in the Shadows is a 2014 mockumentary horror-comedy film directed and written by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. The movie follows the lives of four vampire flatmates in Wellington, New Zealand, who are trying to navigate the complexities of modern life while also being undead.
The main characters include Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Petyr, who range in age from hundreds of years old to over 8,000 years old. The vampires share a house together and often bicker about household chores, squabbles over who gets to eat whom, and trying to fit in with the modern society.
The film also introduces a new character, Nick, a young hipster who gets turned into a vampire after being bitten by one of the lead characters. Nick struggles to adjust to his new life as a vampire and the film shows his exploration of what it means to be undead.
Throughout the movie, the vampires also interact with other supernatural creatures, such as werewolves and witches. They attend a masquerade ball hosted by local vampires, where they encounter a rival group known as the Beast, who pose a threat to their existence.
What We Do in the Shadows received critical acclaim upon its release, with praise directed towards its mockumentary style, comedic performances, and creative take on the vampire genre. The movie has since spawned a television series of the same name, which premiered in 2019.