What We Do In The Shadows

Critics Consensus

Smarter, fresher, and funnier than a modern vampire movie has any right to be, What We Do in the Shadows is bloody good fun.

96%

TOMATOMETER

Reviews Counted: 173

86%
liked it

Audience Score

User Ratings: 26,928

TOMATOMETER

N/A
All Critics | Top Critics
Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

AUDIENCE SCORE

86%
Average Rating: 4.1/5

You may have noticed some of the recent changes we have made. To read more about what we’ve been working on behind the scenes, please check out our new RT Product Blog here.

User image

What We Do In The Shadows Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS chronicles the adventures of four vampire roommates trying to get by in a modern world that's not always hospitable to the undead. Clement and Waititi, creators of the HBO hit series "Flight of the Conchords," co-wrote, co-directed, and co-star in this hilarious send-up in which an endearingly unhip quartet of friends reveal to us or, rather, to the documentary crew that's filming them, the details of their daily-make that nightly-routine. Ranging in age from 183 to 8,000, and in appearance from adorably youthful to Nosferatu-crusty, they squabble over household chores, struggle to keep up with the latest trends in technology and fashion, antagonize the local werewolves, cruise clubs for lovely ladies, and deal with the rigors of living on a very, very strict diet. The film also stars Rhys Darby, Jonathan Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford, and Jackie Van Beek, and was produced by Waititi, Chelsea Winstanley and Emanuel Michael. (C) Paladin

Watch it now

Cast

Jemaine Clement
as Vladislav
Taika Waititi
as Viago
Jonathon Brugh
as Deacon
Cori Gonzalez-Macuer
as Nick
Stu Rutherford
as Stu
Ben Fransham
as Petyr

News & Interviews for What We Do In The Shadows

8 Things We Learned About the Upcoming What We Do in the Shadows Series at New York Comic Con
Memento, The Iron Giant, Blazing Saddles and More Certified Fresh Picks on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week
Why What We Do in the Shadows Became an Instant Cult Classic
View All

Critic Reviews for What We Do In The Shadows

All Critics (173) | Top Critics (36)

  • If Twilight made you queasy and Dark Shadows felt like a missed opportunity, this pitch-perfect genre spoof is worth relishing.

    Mar 13, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Claudia Puig

    USA Today
    Top Critic

  • I'm so sick of vampires I'd have pounded a stake into my own heart not to have to watch this, but it turns out to be a pitch-perfect spoof of MTV's The Real World and a sly satire on millennial slackerdom.

    Mar 6, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    J. R. Jones

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • The New Zealand-made art comedy What We Do in the Shadows is a bracing reminder of how the right burst of energy and style breathes fresh ideas into a genre threatened with creative exhaustion.

    Mar 6, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Patrick Z. McGavin

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • If we see two or three more comedies this year that know what they're doing the way this one does, it'll be a very good year indeed.

    Mar 6, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    Michael Phillips

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • Maybe it's something in the water Down Under, but these fellows have managed to concoct a whole new perspective on fangsters.

    Mar 6, 2015 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

    Tom Long

    Detroit News
    Top Critic

  • Shadows takes what could have been a one-joke sketch and turns it into a very funny, and occasionally even touching, take on brotherhood and friendship...It's certainly more authentic and realistic than recent seasons of The Real World.

    Feb 26, 2015 | Rating: 4/5

    Cary Darling

    Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (173)

Audience Reviews for What We Do In The Shadows

This original one-joke comedy is more impressive for its fantastic special effects than for its plot, since it begins belly-achingly hilarious but then starts to slowly wear off as the novelty gives place to familiarity, proving that some ideas work better when made into short movies.

Carlos Magalhães
Carlos Magalhães

Super Reviewer

"What We Do int he Shadows" puts a huge spin on it's genre, creating a documentary style film about a fictional world of vampires as they travel the streets at night and sleep in their home together during the day. This plays out almost like a wholly dialogue driven feature, with just one difference, everything. This is a very clever (albeit oversaturated) story that i really enjoyed. About halfway through the film you get the sense that they have nowhere else to go with the story and that definitely shows in it's mere 20-minute running time. Well scripted and plotted out well enough, this film has a little something for everyone to "sink their teeth into." To mockumentary fans, this film could be their dream. To myself, "What We Do in the Shadows" works very well at what it sets out to do, but ultimately falls a little flat in some aspects. A very fun and slightly original film that I can recommend watching around Halloween.

KJ Proulx
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

Not as good as advertised. Silly and sophomoric, which is too bad.

Kevin M. Williams
Kevin M. Williams

Super Reviewer

The bulk of us sighed sadly when "Flight of the Conchords" ended in 2009, and the two leads went their separate ways. Their show was awkward, hysterical, and led to a lot of catchy, inappropriate music. I am happy to report that both Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie have found mainstream success. McKenzie actually won an Academy Award for Best Original Song a couple years ago, and Clement has come back together with old comedy partner Taika Waititi to bring us this vampire loving mockumentary. Read more at http://www.bluefairyblog.com/reviews/2015/8/2/what-we-do-in-the-shadows

Spencer S.
Spencer S.

Super Reviewer

View All

What We Do In The Shadows Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features