The 1980s and the Horror Genre

The 1980s was a great time for horror films, with hits like The Shining, Alien, and The Thing launching the era’s most successful franchises, and countless other titles filling out the lineup. It was a time when the genre was near its peak in terms of popularity, as audience members were treated to sensational, often gory, horror films that toed the line between actual horror and dark comedy.

Entering 2014, horror had seen its popularity and vitality slowly slipping away, leaving an adequate amount of quality films, but lacking any revolutionary titles, let alone those that bud into franchises. While there were exceptions to this, such as the established Saw, Paranormal Activity and Insidious series, it seemed as if horror was stuck in a rut, and really needed a breath of fresh air.

Watch What We Do In The Shadows: A Revolutionary Take On Horror

Enter Watch What We Do In The Shadows, a New Zealand horror-comedy mockumentary that dispels the need for gory special effects with witty writing, and rather than relying on horror tropes, it centers its narrative around a group of bickering roommates who happen to be vampires.

The mockumentary follows the lives of Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav, a group of vampires that has lived together in an old house for decades, if not longer. The vampires in the film are very unique in the sense that they are more like regular people than they are like the mainstream, horror-type vampires seen in films like Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Twilight. The reason for this is that vampires of the later films are mostly fictional, while Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are portrayed as actual creatures found in the real world, and thusly their behavior is far more anti-theatrical and comedic than outlandish and thrilling.

This uniqueness gives the film a unique comedic appeal, while also providing a refreshing change of pace from the overdone vampire films of the past. In addition to the great writing, the mockumentary also features superb special effects, as well as great music from the likes of Underworld and Damon Albarn.

Watch What We Do In The Shadows Becomes A Film Phenomenon

The great combination of entertaining story-telling, cynical comedy, and devilishly delightful special effects made Watch What We Do In The Shadows an instant cult classic. Critics celebrated the film for its clever satire, hailing it as one of the freshest takes on horror that had been released in the past few years, and it quickly went on to become one of the most popular films of the year, with an immense cult following.

In addition to its overwhelming success on the big screen, the film spawned a sequel and a television series, further cementing its status as an iconic horror-comedy. Watch What We Do In The Shadows revitalized the horror genre, and its influence reverberates throughout the industry in the form of other creative comedies, such as The Babadook, Get Out, and The Cabin In The Woods. Without this revolutionary film, it is safe to say the genre would still be in a rut, much like it was prior to 2014.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the success of Watch What We Do In The Shadows is undeniable, as it revitalized the horror genre and provided viewers with a revolutionary take on the classic vampire story. The combination of witty writing, great special effects, catchy music, and thoroughly entertaining characters made this film an instant cult classic, and its influence is still felt throughout the industry. So if you love horror-comedies and vampires, Watch What We Do In The Shadows is definitely a must-watch!