What We Do In The Shadows is deadpan upon arrival. The new FX mockumentary comedy takes the same conceit as its 2014 film namesake, both jointly co-created and produced by Kiwi’s Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, transplanting locales from New Zealand to Staten Island, and follows vampire roommates living in and trying to come to terms with their place in the 21st century.
House Party
As the “Pilot” opens we meet Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), the human familiar of one Nador (Kayvan Novak), a former Istanbul tyrant turned nearly-dandy-vampire, as Guillermo describes his duties and how he has been in the service of Nador for a decade and believes his master is about to finally turn him into a vampire as well. Ever since Guillermo saw Interview with a Vampire as a child, it’s been his dream to become a Latino vampire and help fill the role this of under-represented type of vampire. Nador is the self-proclaimed leader of the house, who’s bossy and uptight and has rarified and charming air about him, when he’s not consuming human blood.
Helping populate the house are couple Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Nadja (Natasia Demetriou). Nadja turned Laszlo into a vampire during a time when his village in England had leprocy and they have been (unfaithful) lovers ever since. They’re both equally annoyed with Nandor’s insistence on petty rules about food consumption, adding much needed friction and tension amongst the characters through levity into the show.
Rounding out the housemates is the contemporary vampire Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), who is a psychic vampire, or an energy vampire. I shan’t be divulging what exactly his power is or does because spoiling what is one of the most hilarious concepts I’ve seen in a long time should be punishable by death. Alongside our world and the world of the show, Colin is what’s known as a daywalker – a fairly new staple in vampire lore – who can also feed off of regular vampires as well as the living.
With these extreme characters performed perfectly in ridiculous, over-the-top mannerisms, nothing but hilarity ensues from the brilliant actors and their reactive interactions with each other, and the poor human beings who get unsuspectingly trapped in their gazes.
The Baron Cometh
The plot of this first episode centers around a letter that The Baron, played by Guillermo del Toro regular Doug Jones, sends to the house informing the silly vampires of his forthcoming arrival. The Baron is coming to see if vampire-hood has begun to take over The United States. He, much like a Voldemort let’s say, believes in the superiority of vampires and wants them to rule humanity with an iron first. This sets in motion the house trying to properly prepare for an ancient’s ingression.
Guillermo believes that this will be the time that he will be turned, and gleefully awaits his ascension by getting tasty virgins for The Baron. We learn Nandor has a few cosmetic surprises he eagerly awaits to show The Baron, and that maybe Laszlo and Nadja have a few intimate details about The Baron’s physique from previous encounters with him.
I assume the plot for the rest of the season will rest on the Baron’s vampiric conquest to dominate all life, though plot in the show is merely the gateway to assuring hilarious skits and sketches. But I do wonder if the show will get a touch of melancholy that the film did as it progresses. Life can be just as fraught and nihilistic in the search for existential meaning to the undead as it can be for those who still have beating tickers.
What We Do In The Shadows: Summation
The first episode of What We Do In The Shadows is a macabre romp that remarkably adds and expounds upon the comedic elements of its filmic progenitor, and takes sharp bites to verite conventions with uproarious fangs. Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement are absolute geniuses and know how to tickle one’s funny bones, whether they’re alive to feel it or not.
Who’s your favorite character on the show?
What We Do In The Shadows airs Wednesday’s at 7pm EST/10pm PST on FX.
https://youtu.be/SyZi3rJPENs
Does content like this matter to you?
Become a Member and support film journalism. Unlock access to all of Film Inquiry`s great articles. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about cinema - get access to our private members Network, give back to independent filmmakers, and more.