Feature Film
What We Do in the Shadows
2014
Filmed In
Wellington
Towns & Areas
Wellington city and suburbs
The Story
A riotously funny mockumentary following a group of centuries-old vampires who share a flat in modern-day Wellington, navigating the mundane horrors of chores, rent, and trying to get into local nightclubs.
The Stars
Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, and Jonny Brugh. This ensemble carries the film's deadpan tone entirely from within Wellington's own streets and flats.
Behind the Lens
Written and directed by the powerhouse duo of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. Waititi and Clement co-wrote and co-directed the film together, later expanding it into a long-running television spin-off.
Why NZ?
This homegrown comedy masterpiece leans heavily into deadpan Kiwi humor. It was shot entirely on location in Wellington, capturing the capital city's vibrant, eclectic nightlife and cozy suburban flats. The film barely needed to alter the city at all, which is part of why its deadpan tone feels so genuinely local. The decision to shoot entirely on location, rather than build sets, is part of why the film still feels so grounded.
On Set
Stu Rutherford, who plays a minor but memorable character, was originally hired in a genuine part-time business-analyst capacity to help with computer troubleshooting on set — and ended up written into the film as a full character. The result feels less like a film shot in Wellington and more like a document of it.
Legacy
The mockumentary format and deadpan tone went on to spawn a long-running American television spin-off of the same name, extending the film's reach well beyond its original release.
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