# What We Do In The Shadows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190 "2014-06-20T02:45:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/1 "2014-06-20T02:45:29Z")
I really want to see this. [Critical word is great, although no audience word yet](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/what_we_do_in_the_shadows/), and I’m a sucker for vampires, mockumentaries, Taika Waititi - _Green Lantern_ excepted - and Jermaine Clements. And the trailer [just makes me giggle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv568AzZ-i8&feature=kp). “I’m supposed to pay rent. But I don’t”. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/2 "2014-06-20T11:42:11Z")
Thanks for posting this! Now I have to see it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/3 "2014-07-14T05:52:55Z")
I saw this last night. If you get the chance, see it. Very dry, very understated, and funny as all hell, with some terrific performances: Jermaine Clements is funny as a Eastern European medieval vampire who is “a bit of a pervert”, but Taika Waititi steals the show by being totally adorable. It’s a lot more than just comedy splatter, though: it has a genuinely warm-hearted core by being about male friendships. These guys are basically weirdoes and lunatics who bicker and squabble and annoy each other, but they survive by being friends. And Stu is a legend. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/4 "2015-05-11T10:20:22Z")
One more bump; this should be available to download now on iTunes. Still highly recommended: it actually pairs oddly well with in a double-bill with _Only Lovers Left Alive_, Jim Jarmusch’s more serious take on a very similar theme. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/5 "2015-05-11T10:40:47Z")
_Were_wolves, not _Swear_wolves! ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/6 "2015-05-11T19:53:40Z")
I saw it 3 times in the theater. LOVED it! It holds up beautifully. It’s still playing at the Logan theater in Chicago. It’s been bouncing around from theater to theater here for a few months. That’s unusual for an indie! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/7 "2015-05-12T03:09:45Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > _Were_wolves, not _Swear_wolves! Yeah, I liked his chidingly Scoutmasterish approach to leading the werewolves, it was treated, like all the friendships in the movie, with such affectionate accuracy: he really did just want what was best for his pack. Excellent [Salon.com](http://Salon.com) review of the film [here:](http://www.salon.com/2015/02/13/what_we_do_in_the_shadows_a_hilarious_mockumentary_on_suburban_vampire_angst/) really, it was what \*Dark Shadows \*wanted to be on probably a twentieth of the budget. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/8 "2015-05-12T03:58:35Z")
I liked Rhys Darby’s scenes, but overall I was disappointed. It was mildly using bug nowhere near the level I expect from Jemaine Clement. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/9 "2015-05-12T04:03:40Z")
Yes, Jemaine needs to use more bug. I had pretty much the same reaction. It is amusing and definitely worth seeing if you like any of the people who made it, but it’s not gut-bustingly funny. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/10 "2015-05-12T04:30:24Z")
Thank goodness my husband and I have the same sense of humor. There were many parts we missed because we were both laughing so hard. I can’t imagine watching it with someone who didn’t find it funny as hell. I love my husband! I had never heard of/seen any of the actors before which means I’ve missed some good things (and would understand the “bug” reference), but it was helpful in not already associating any of them with other characters. Now if I see any of them in anything else I’d be all excited and say (to myself) “Oh wow, look, it’s Viago!/Vadislav!/Diego!/Petyr!/Nick!/Stu!” They’re typecast for me now! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/11 "2015-05-12T05:58:23Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I had never heard of/seen any of the actors before which means I’ve missed some good things (and would understand the “bug” reference), but it was helpful in not already associating any of them with other characters. Now if I see any of them in anything else I’d be all excited and say (to myself) “Oh wow, look, it’s Viago!/Vadislav!/Diego!/Petyr!/Nick!/Stu!” They’re typecast for me now! If you ever watch\* Flight of the Conchords\* you’ll recognise a few of the faces, and a lot of the humour. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/12 "2015-05-12T06:11:15Z")
I read up on them after seeing it because I didn’t read anything before seeing it (I didn’t even know it was a comedy/monumentary) and saw that. I’d heard of FotC but had never seen it. Will probably binge-watch the series at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/13 "2015-05-12T06:18:09Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I read up on them after seeing it because I didn’t read anything before seeing it (I didn’t even know it was a comedy/monumentary) and saw that. I’d heard of FotC but had never seen it. Will probably binge-watch the series at some point. Very well worth seeing, and the musical parodies are immaculate. I think it has quite a following on these boards. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/14 "2015-05-12T11:43:25Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > Yes, Jemaine needs to use more bug. > [@Equipoise](#): > > (and would understand the “bug” reference) “Mildly using bug” is just autocorrect for “mildly amusing but.” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/15 "2016-01-04T02:01:36Z")
**Another bump** Watching it right now, nearly to the end. Wow, this is certainly the best comedy of the past couple years. I haven’t laughed at a feature film like this for a few years. TV comedies maybe, but not a movie. I strongly recommend this movie to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/16 "2016-01-04T05:54:41Z")
Loved this film! The explanation for why vampires prefer virgins was one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t breath, I was laughing so hard. “Say you were going to eat a sandwich…” ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/17 "2016-01-04T05:59:26Z")
I laughed harder at this movie than I’ve laughed at a movie in decades. Like others, I think I missed half the dialog from laughing so much. The rest of the theater audience was laughing at least as much as I was. The New Yorker gave it a very good review. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/18 "2016-01-04T06:23:53Z")
It’s one of those films you need to watch more than once to pick up on all the smaller laughs, like the deadpan fire safety cops. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/19 "2016-01-04T06:34:05Z")
It was fun. I do think that Jemaine’s character was the least interesting, but still fine. Rhys Darby trying to keep his werewolves broing out was great. Viago is also the director and will direct the next Thor film. _Only Lovers Left Alive_ on the other hand **is** Jarmusch, which if you like his other films you might like it, but for most people that means sloooow. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2016, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190/20 "2016-01-04T07:02:56Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Viago is also the director and will direct the next Thor film. I think I just came. I had no idea! Loved Taika Waititi, his character, this movie. Love Chris Hemsworth. Love Thor. Love the movies. This might be the greatest thing ever. EVER! (ok, for me) > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > _Only Lovers Left Alive_ on the other hand **is** Jarmusch, which if you like his other films you might like it, but for most people that means sloooow. That was one of my 3 favorite films of last year (the other two being Under The Skin and Inherent Vice). **What We Do In The Shadows** is definitely in my Top 5 for 2015. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-we-do-in-the-shadows/691190.md?page=2)