What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

On this week's episode we talk about some nonindigenous vampire roommates, living it up in the New Zealand undead underbelly. Originally a short film entitled, What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires in 2005, over the next nine years the idea developed into a full-length film, spawning two spinoff TV shows. By the end of filming in 2012, the team has over 125 hours of footage. There are rumored to be three different cuts of the film, each highlighting a different narrative element. Editing ultimately took over a year to complete. The film was written and directed by Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, Men in Black 3, Moana) Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor Ragnarok, The Hunt for the Wilderpeople). Clement's character was originally Vulvus the Abhorrent, before the feature film presented us with Vladislov, "The Poker." Vlad is a once-great lover and shapeshifter, who has been in something of a rut after losing a duel with his nefarious nemesis... The Beast. Waititi's character, initially Count Viago, before become much less formal with simply, "Viago," is something of a neat freak dandy. While the film could have simply languished as a rehash and repackaging of The Odd Couple, the film adds new characters and events to give a change of pace and scenery. Ben Fransham plays their 8,000 year old Nosferatu/ Count Orlock-looking flatmate: Petyr. Jonny Brugh plays their youngest friend and cohabitant, Deacon, at least until newcomer, Nick, enters the gang. Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer) is impetuous, braggadocios, and finds himself drawing the ire of the other vampires when he leads a vampire hunter to their door. Luckily, the other vampires' fondness of Nick's human friend, Stu, brings him back into their good graces. Comedy legend, Rhys Darby, plays Anton, the leader of a local pack of werewolves. Much is made of the werewolves and their self-help approach to their lycanthropy, leading to such iconic turns of phrase as, "We're werewolves, not swearwolves!" The werewolf culture established is so gutbustingly funny that it has made its way into both Wellington Paranormal and the FX series What We Do in the Shadows, which returns this April. The "Hidden Track" this week is Graveview with their jammer, No Hope. You can find them here: https://graveview.bandcamp.com/releases ; https://www.facebook.com/Graveview/ If you ever have feedback or recommendations on future episodes, please let us know at [email protected]. You can always find us on our social media: Instagram, Twitter, Slasher App: @slasherspod Facebook: /slasherspod Reddit: u/slasherspod https://www.youtube.com/c/slasherspodcast Theme song is I wanna Die by Mini Meltdowns. https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ZAk6lUDsaJj8EAhrhzZnh ; https://minimeltdowns.bandcamp.com/