(Updated after Season 6).
Four vampires and their human helper share a house on Staten Island, New York. Turns out vampires have domestic problems too.
What We Do In The Shadows, the movie, was released in 2014. Co-written and -directed by Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and Taika Waititi (Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Eagle vs Shark, Jojo Rabbit) it was brilliant: with wonderfully understated humour, sharp dialogue and clever skits it was quirkily funny and intelligent without becoming silly or even seeming to try too hard.
The movie was set and filmed in Wellington, New Zealand and captured the folksy understated humour that is a New Zealand trademark. When I discovered that the series is set in the US, I had my doubts as to how it would measure up to the movie, figuring it had been hijacked by US producers and writers.
I needn't have worried.
Clement and Waititi are the executive producers and lead writers, so, while the setting has changed, the creative geniuses behind the movie are behind the series too. The series largely captures the same quirky, understated humour of the movie, but with different characters and actors, and the new players don't put a foot wrong.
Not entirely the same feel as the movie: the movie felt more candid (as was ostensibly filmed by a documentary crew), giving it a slight edge but there is little to choose between the two.
For five seasons the quality and freshness of the show did not waiver showing that the writers hadn't run out of ideas. The show also had a long-term story arc, making it even more interesting.
In Season 6, the final season, does feel a bit stale and doesn't quite have the zip of the previous seasons. It's still great but just not in the same league as what came before.
A good thing then that it ended as otherwise it would definitely have overstayed its welcome. Kudos to the producers for pulling the plug when they realised that the show had run its course.
