The film follows a group of vampires headed by the uneasy Viago Von Dorna Schmarten Scheden Heimburg (né von Blitzenberg), played by Taika Waititi. A movie crew follows him as he narrates his everyday life with the rebellious Deacon Brucke, played by Jonathan Brugh, the insecure Vladislav the Poker, played by Jemaine Clement, and the 8,000-year-old vampire Petyr, played by Ben Fransham.
Soon, the supposed-to-be dinner guest turned vampire, Nick, played by Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, joins them. His addition adds substance to the overarching narrative. He's a representation of modernity and youth, a direct contrast to Viago and his roomies.
The concept plus the execution took it from okay to wow. The witty dialogue and likeable leads all mix up perfectly. It's easy to forget that this is not a legitimate documentary.
All four actors are so natural in their roles. Even though the characters they play are distinct from one another, it's surprising how well they complement one another.
It is funny to watch vampires try to fit in with present-day Wellington. But the real superstar of the film is a guy who doesn't have any supernatural abilities and works as a software analyst. It's none other than the loveable Stu Rutherford, played by Stu Rutherford.
A gag placed by Taika and Jemaine, Stu fits in like a jigsaw puzzle. He represents modernity in the form of technology. His character is so awkward and laughable that it's hard not to notice him. Within the presence of literal blood-sucking creatures, his composure and collective demeanor are a brilliant farce in a society alienated by power and dominance.
For a movie full of literally dead characters, Stu provides warmth to the viewers.
To sum it up, "What We Do in the Shadows" is a well-thought-out and easy-to-love film.
At its core, it's about friendships. But it also represents the possibility of two separate beings or races living in harmony.
Intolerance will not exist as long as we are accepting and understanding of the world. We might not encounter vampires (for real), but we can be respectful of anyone from any walk of life.
5/5
