Exploring The Great Vampire Comedy That Led to the Also-Great TV Series

The original film What We Do in the Shadows is a hilarious 2014 New Zealand mockumentary horror comedy that follows the lives of three roommates who are just trying to live normal lives—well, for vampires who are immortals and have to drink human blood. They struggle with not being able to dress in front of mirrors, trying to get into nightclubs, keeping up with chores, and trying to get along with their roommates.

Written and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the film is the first installment in what became a group of related projects. Clement and Waititi also star in the film, with Jonathan Brugh, Ben Fransham, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford, and Jackie van Beek.

The film led to two spin-off TV series:

• Wellington Paranormal is a New Zealand mockumentary comedy horror TV series revolving around Officers Minogue and O'Leary, who first appeared in the movie. The show stars Mike Minogue, Karen O'Leary, and Maaka Pohatu.

• There’s also the brilliant same-titled spinoff, What We Do in the Shadows, an American version that builds a mockumentary around a different set of vampire roommates, this time in Staten Island, New York. That show stars Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, and Mark Proksch. This show is especially notable for exploring ideas that have never been seen in vampire stories before.

Buy the What We Do in the Shadows movie from Amazon

Buy episodes of the What We Do in the Shadows TV series from Amazon

Buy the Wellington Paranormal TV series from Amazon

The video below is a rare visit behind the scenes of the making of the original movie.

Behind The Shadows - Making of What We Do In The Shadows

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Related links

• Love 'What We Do in the Shadows'? Watch the Short Film (Collider)

• Small Details You Missed In What We Do In The Shadows (Looper)

• Taika Waititi: “Am I Allowed to Laugh at This?” (Hollywood Reporter)

• What We Do in the Shadows and Interview With the Vampire Throw Down on Twitter (CBR)

• 20 Facts About 'What We Do in the Shadows' (Mental Floss)

• How Taika Waititi Adapted the Vampire Comedy 'What We Do in The Shadows' for American TV (Thrillist)

• 'What We Do in the Shadows' Revisits a Tale That Refuses to Die (New York Times)

• 10 Facts You Didn't Know About Taika Waititi (Screen Rant)

• Here's How Taika Waititi Decides Who He'll Play In His Own Projects (Tor.com)

• What We Do In The Shadows Kicked Off A Battle Between Matt Berry And Taika Waititi (Slash Film)

• Taika Waititi Reveals WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Was Built Using Stolen Material From THE HOBBIT (GeekTyrant)

• Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi interview: What We Did In The Shadows (Den of Geek)

• Interview: Jemaine Clement Explains Why 'What We Do In The Shadows' Series Is Set On Staten Island (Gothamist)