What We Do In The Shadows: 5 Differences (& 5 Similarities) Between The Movie & The Show

What We Do in the Shadows was a 2014 movie that followed the mundane lives of vampires living in a small town in New Zealand who hilariously fought about whose turn it was to clean the dishes but were also ruthless killers. The film balanced horror and comedy and was an extremely successful Indie film when it first premiered.

The film set up was adapted into a television series in 2019 and is still running after its first two seasons have aired. The show follows a new set of vampires, and while there are some differences there are also many similarities. Here are some of the biggest similarities and differences between the original film and the new television series.

10 Similarity: Set Up

Although there are differences throughout the show when compared to the original film, the set up is essentially the same.

The film followed a group of vampires trying to live their life in a human world and getting into mundane arguments like who isn’t doing their chores on the chore wheel. The television show follows new characters, but the set up of vampires trying to live their lives in a human world is the same.

9 Difference: Cast

Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, and Natasia Demetriou star in the television show as three new vampires that are introduced to the What We Do in the Shadows world. The show also stars Harvey Guillén as their familiar Guillermo and Mark Proksch as a new type of vampire called Colin Robinson.

None of them appeared in the original film that followed Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, and Jonathan Brugh as the three main vampires.

8 Similarity: Comedic Tone

The original film has a particular deadpan comedic tone intertwined throughout its entirety and the television show follows its lead.

Both the film and the television show are improvised, which also allows the two to establish a specific comedic tone although different actors do the improvisation. Due to the similar plot set up and comedic tone, the show feels like a natural successor to the film.

7 Difference: Cameos

The film didn’t have too many big named cameos throughout as directors and creators Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement cast their friends to be in the film. The show differs from the film in this regard as there are countless cameos throughout the show so far in its two seasons.

Waititi, Clement, and Jonathan Brugh reprise their roles along with other famous vampires played by Tilda Swinton, Dany Trejo, Evan Rachel Wood and more have cameoed along with an episode with Mark Hamill.

6 Similarity: Jemaine Clement And Taika Waititi

Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi were heavily involved in the original film as creators and directors who also starred as Vladislav and Viago respectively.

Both have written for the new television series and reprised their roles from the original film, and Clement is credited as the creator of the FX series. Their presence in both the film and the television series has likely contributed to the success of both.

5 Difference: Female Vampire Lead

Although there are female vampires throughout the original film, they never spent the time to delve into the interesting characters that were introduced and instead focused on the three main male vampires.

The television show introduces Nadja as one of the main characters and continues to delve into her character with backstory information and makes her the center of new plotlines.

4 Similarity: Mockumentary

Both the original film and the television show both have a mockumentary set up where a documentary crew is inexplicably following a group of vampires around.

The set up allows the characters to talk directly to the camera and have mini-interviews throughout. It’s an efficient way to introduce and build characters and it’s still a successful and funny set up in the show.

3 Difference: More Supernatural Characters

The original film suggested and showed that there were more supernatural creatures that existed in the vampires’ world, but the television show has more time to delve into these characters.

Colin Robinson is a new type of vampire, an energy vampire, that drains people from having boring conversations with them instead of sucking their blood. The show has also delved into ghosts and witches and had a character called The Bababook in an obvious homage to The Babadook. 

2 Similarity: Balance Of Comedy And Horror

Both the original film and the new television series have a similar balance of comedy and horror.

The comedy is similar in both, typically deadpan humor and improvisation, and the horror that offsets it is also similar. Both have hilarious moments and true moments of horror throughout.

1 Difference: Location

The original film had the vampires living in a small city in New Zealand where they could lay low while the new series has the vampires living in the bustling city of Staten Island in New York City.

The film’s location established that everyone knew everyone especially in the vampire community, but the show allows for more and new interactions between the main three vampires and other humans and supernatural creatures throughout the city.

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