A Kiwi mockumentary about a bunch of vampires flatting in Wellington really is just as ridiculous as it sounds.
And that is the beauty of What we do in the Shadows, a film created by two of New Zealand's favourite comedic sons, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement.
Waititi found criticalacclaim for his movie Boy while Clement is probably better known for his role as half of the duo Flight of the Conchords.
The pair, who both directed What We do in the Shadows, play two of the four vampire flatmates in Wellington whose day-to-day "lives" are documented via a film crew leading up to an annual ball for the dead (and undead) -- meaning there's not much of a storyline but the horror/comedy schtick works.
Viago (Waititi) is a complete dandy while Vladislav (Clement) is more of an oversexed, vain pervert. We also meet vampires Deacon and Peter. Together the four represent the different embodiments of vampires over the years, complete with well-ironed frills, flying skills and handkerchiefs.
The very notion of these flatmates squabbling about who should do the pile of blood-stained dishes is just silly, but utterly hilarious. The comedy steps up from this when Viago offers advice to keep the flat tidy by putting down newspaper and towels when biting into a victim -- a gag referenced again later in the course of the movie, to brilliant effect.
7 Days regular Cori Gonzalez-Macuer plays the role of Nick, the "new" vampire who is far more Gen X or Y than that of the four old-timer flatmates and he's happy to show them a few new tricks.
Bring in Nick's human friend Stu, a pack of clothing-challenged werewolves, some subtle cameos and hilarity ensues.
