What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

What We Do in the Shadows feels special because it treats immortal vampires not as gothic icons, but as painfully relatable roommates—bickering over chores, etiquette, and the small indignities of modern living—with a straight-faced sincerity that makes every absurd moment land. Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement nail the mockumentary tone, letting the comedy bloom in awkward pauses, petty squabbles, and the gentle, affectionate way these centuries-old weirdos try to keep up with the world. It’s witty, surprisingly charming, and just bloody enough to remind you it’s still a horror comedy, not a sitcom with fangs. If you don’t like deadpan humor or the faux-documentary style, it may not be your bite—but if you do, it’s one of the freshest, funniest vampire movies in years.

What We Do in the Shadows is trying to be a low-stakes, deadpan mockumentary that treats vampire life like a petty roommate sitcom, and when that click happens it’s genuinely clever. The catch is it’s basically a string of sketches, so if you need a strong plot engine or big comedic set pieces, you may find the pacing a bit meandering and the jokes uneven. The humor is dry, awkward, and deliberately small, and the R-rated blood, language, and occasional sexual material can feel more matter-of-fact than thrilling or scary. If you like silly world-building, oddball character banter, and a charmingly cheap “documentary” vibe, it’s a good time; if you’re here for real horror or a tightly structured comedy, you might be checking your watch.