What We Do in the Shadows(2014)
2014 · Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi · 86 min
Vampire housemates try to cope with the complexities of modern life and show a newly turned hipster some of the perks of being undead.
Comedy · Horror
7.54k votes
TMDB score
1/5
Intensity
1/5
Gore
1/5
Stays with you
How What We Do in the Shadows scares
Watching this feels more like hanging out with awkward roommates than being scared of anything, since the whole point is comedy, not fear. It's shot like a mockumentary, with a relaxed, silly pace that pokes fun at vampire and werewolf legends instead of using them to unsettle you. There's a bit of blood here and there but it's played for laughs, not dread. This is a great pick if you want something spooky-flavored but genuinely funny and easygoing, not something that will scare you at all.
On The Horror Database's 0–5 scare profile, What We Do in the Shadows rates psychological 1/5, visceral 1/5, gore 1/5, lingering effect 1/5, and overall intensity 1/5.
- Psychological: 1 of 5
- Visceral: 1 of 5
- Gore: 1 of 5
- Lingering: 1 of 5
- Intensity: 1 of 5
Slow burn vs Jump scares: 15 of 100 — leans Slow burn
Supernatural vs Real-world: 10 of 100 — leans Supernatural
Fun-scary vs Disturbing: 5 of 100 — leans Fun-scary
Intensity over runtime
Shape only — no eventsReveal pacing shapeHide pacing shapeHidden by default — shows where the tension peaks and lets up.
A light, comedic hangout vibe throughout with a few bursts of chaotic energy rather than any real mounting dread.
Intensity across the runtime, 0 to 100: 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2.
How scary is What We Do in the Shadows?
On The Horror Database's 0–5 intensity scale, What We Do in the Shadows rates 1/5 — gentle by horror standards, building its fear through slow-burn dread rather than shocks. It works on both fronts, unsettling the mind while going for the body. Expect it to be restrained with gore and fun-first. The dread fades once the credits roll.
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