Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

What We Do in the Shadows (2015) movie poster

Plot Summary

What We Do in the Shadows (2015) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 86 min · English
Loading streaming availability…
Starring
Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Jonathan Brugh

Three centuries-old vampires, Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav, share a dilapidated house in Wellington, New Zealand, and struggle to adapt to modern life. They grapple with everyday problems like paying bills, cleaning up messes, and dealing with annoying neighbors, all while trying to maintain their ancient traditions and supernatural needs. Their existence is complicated further by the arrival of a fourth vampire, Petyr, and the challenges of navigating the human world while concealing their true identities.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 How it ends
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like What We Do in the Shadows
  7. 7 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in What We Do in the Shadows: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of What We Do in the Shadows (2015) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In this captivating narrative, a dedicated documentary crew immerses themselves into the mysterious lives of four quirky vampires - Viago, Vladislav, Deacon, and Petyr - who share a bizarre household in Wellington's Te Aro suburb. Each vampire boasts distinct supernatural abilities, ranging from levitation to shape-shifting. Viago, a debonair 17th-century gentleman, originally journeyed to New Zealand in the 1940s to find his everlasting love, Katherine. Vladislav, a 12th-century despot nicknamed "Vladislav the Poker," grapples with haunting memories of his rival, "the Beast." Meanwhile, Deacon, a rebellious 19th-century hustler, was converted into a vampire by the enigmatic Petyr, an ancient and reclusive creature reminiscent of Count Orlok, who acts more like a wild animal.

As dusk descends, Viago, Vladislav, and Deacon set out onto the bustling streets of Wellington, on the prowl for unsuspecting victims. Their human aide, Jackie, caters to their nocturnal requirements—bringing them sustenance and cleaning up after their feasting escapades. Unknown to the vampires, Jackie harbors her own longing for immortality, frustrated that Deacon has yet to fulfill his promise of granting her eternal life. To quench their insatiable thirst, Deacon enlists Jackie to lure virgins for their feeding. She successfully tricks a woman from her past who has wronged her—along with her ex-boyfriend Nick— to their flat, though neither are actually virgins. The woman meets a brutal fate, while Nick narrowly evades death, only to be caught and turned into one of the undead by Petyr.

Fast forward two months, and the vampires embrace Nick as one of their own, establishing an unexpected camaraderie with Stu, a computer analyst who introduces them to contemporary technology. Viago takes to the Internet to reconnect with Katherine, who is now a 96-year-old widow living in a Wellington nursing home, and revives old ties with his former servant, Philip.

As Nick grapples with adapting to his new identity as a vampire, he encounters disdain from Deacon, who is irritated by Nick's burgeoning popularity and his habit of carelessly revealing their secret to outsiders. One fateful day, a relentless vampire hunter infiltrates their flat in daylight, intent on exposing Petyr to sunlight, leading to the ancient vampire's tragic end. The vampires’ rage escalates, culminating in their ire aimed at Nick for his inadvertent role in Petyr's demise. In a climactic confrontation, Deacon attempts to eliminate Nick, but Viago intervenes with his hypnotic charms, rendering the trio oblivious to the chaos surrounding them. Eventually, they decide to banish Nick, granting Stu a unique exception to visit at will.

Months later, the undead community gathers for the annual Unholy Masquerade, an extravagant mix of vampires, zombies, and witches. Vladislav's disdain for the event is palpable, especially upon discovering that Pauline, his former girlfriend, has assumed the persona of "The Beast." When Viago and Deacon enter the masquerade, they're taken aback to find Nick, Stu, and Jackie in attendance—Jackie now fully under Nick's vampiric spell. The shocking revelation sends ripples of surprise through the party, as it becomes evident that Stu and his camera crew are merely mortals.

As tensions rise and the revelers narrow in on the intruders, Vladislav confronts Pauline's new partner, Julian, leading to a daring act that sees Stu impale Julian on a flagpole. The vampires, alongside the camera crew, make a hasty escape, stumbling into a pack of werewolves lurking in the moonlit shadows. The ensuing chaos results in Stu and one of his cameramen falling victim to the werewolves' wrath. Believing Stu to be dead, the vampires flee in dismay, mourning their perceived loss.

Time passes before Nick returns to the flat with a surprising twist—Stu has miraculously survived the werewolf attack and now walks among them as a lycanthrope. The pack leader encourages the vampires to accept Stu back into their fold, and Deacon ultimately concedes, welcoming the werewolves into their unconventional family. Meanwhile, Viago rekindles his romance with Katherine, ultimately transforming her into one of the undead as well.

As the film concludes, viewers are treated to a series of heartfelt vignettes, illustrating the aftermath of their escapades: Vladislav has rekindled his troubled romance with Pauline; Jackie's husband has embraced the role of her familiar; and Deacon makes one last attempt to hypnotize the audience into oblivion, leaving a legacy of laughter, love, and chaos.

Last updated: November 22, 2024 at 18:44

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

What We Do in the Shadows Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about What We Do in the Shadows (2015): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why was Nick blamed for Petyr's death?

Nick's careless behavior led the vampire hunter to their flat. While the hunter actually killed Petyr by exposing him to sunlight, the other vampires held Nick responsible because his recklessness and habit of revealing their secret to outsiders made the household vulnerable. This incident fueled Deacon's existing resentment toward Nick.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Deacon had expressed irritation with Nick's popularity and careless disclosure of vampire secrets to outsiders.

  • nick
  • petyr
  • vampire hunter
  • blame
  • death
Q2

How did Stu survive the werewolf attack?

Stu did not survive as a human, he was turned into a werewolf. After being attacked by the pack during the escape from the masquerade, he recovered and returned to the vampires' flat as a lycanthrope. The werewolf pack leader then encouraged the vampires to accept him back into their household.

  • stu
  • werewolf
  • attack
  • survived
  • transformation
Q3

Why did Viago turn Katherine into a vampire?

Viago had been searching for Katherine since arriving in New Zealand in the 1940s. When he finally reconnected with her through the Internet, she was a 96-year-old widow. To be together forever as he had always wanted, Viago transformed her into a vampire, fulfilling his centuries-long dream of reuniting with his lost love.

Foreshadowing: Viago's original motivation for coming to New Zealand was to find Katherine, and he spent decades trying to locate her.

  • viago
  • katherine
  • transformation
  • love
  • eternal
Q4

Why did Viago hypnotize Deacon to stop him from killing Nick?

During the confrontation after Petyr's death, Deacon attempted to kill Nick in a fit of rage. Viago used his hypnotic powers to put the other vampires into a trance, effectively stopping the violence. This act saved Nick's life and allowed him to remain temporarily, though he was eventually banished from the household.

  • deacon
  • viago
  • hypnosis
  • nick
  • kill
Q5

Why did the vampires accept Stu back after he became a werewolf?

Despite werewolves traditionally being enemies of vampires, the pack leader approached the vampires and asked them to accept Stu back. Deacon eventually agreed, and the household welcomed both Stu and the werewolves into their unconventional family. This represents a major shift in the traditional vampire-werewolf rivalry.

  • stu
  • werewolf
  • vampires
  • accept
  • pack
Q6

Why did Petyr turn Nick into a vampire?

Petyr is an ancient, animalistic vampire who acts on instinct rather than social convention. After Jackie brought Nick to the flat (under the pretense of a party), Nick survived the initial attack. Petyr, seemingly drawn to Nick, chose to turn him rather than let him die, demonstrating Petyr's unpredictable, wild nature unlike the more civilized vampires.

Foreshadowing: Petyr is described as resembling Count Orlok and acting more like a wild animal than the other vampires.

  • petyr
  • nick
  • turned
  • vampire
  • transformation
Q7

Why did Jackie become Nick's familiar?

Jackie had been the vampires' human assistant, helping them with feeding and cleanup while hoping Deacon would grant her immortality. However, she ended up becoming a servant to Nick instead, the vampire she helped lure to the flat. This twist reflects her original desperation for immortality, now bound to a different master.

Foreshadowing: Jackie repeatedly asked Deacon to turn her into a vampire, expressing frustration that he hadn't fulfilled his promise.

  • jackie
  • nick
  • familiar
  • servant
  • immortality
Q8

Why was Vladislav upset to see The Beast at the masquerade?

Vladislav discovered that his former girlfriend Pauline had become The Beast at the Unholy Masquerade. Their past relationship was troubled, Vladislav had previously used his powers to trap Pauline in a machine, and now seeing her with a new partner (Julian) intensified his anger and disdain toward the event.

Foreshadowing: Vladislav is haunted by memories of his rival 'the Beast' and carries significant emotional baggage about past relationships.

  • vladislav
  • beast
  • pauline
  • masquerade
  • relationship
Q9

What happened to the documentary crew at the end?

One cameraman was killed by werewolves during the chaotic escape from the masquerade. The fate of the remaining crew members is not explicitly shown, though they appear to have escaped with the vampires during the confusion. The film ends with Deacon attempting to hypnotize the audience, implying the documentary itself may be part of his mind control.

  • documentary
  • crew
  • cameraman
  • werewolf
  • death
Q10

Why was Nick banished and then allowed to return?

After Petyr's death, the vampires blamed Nick for leading the hunter to their home and banished him, though Viago made an exception for Stu to continue visiting. Months later, Nick returned for the Unholy Masquerade and was eventually welcomed back into the household, though his exact readmission timeline is not detailed.

  • nick
  • banished
  • return
  • household
  • vampires

Ending explained

What Happens at the End of What We Do in the Shadows?

How What We Do in the Shadows (2015) ends, in short: the final scene, the last twist and what it means for the characters. The full ending explained, with every spoiler, lives on its own page.

Read the full ending explained

The finale of What We Do in the Shadows takes a humorous and meta turn as it abruptly ends the long-running documentary style of the series. After six seasons, the vampire crew has finally filmed all they need, and the documentary crew decides to stop filming the vampires’ everyday lives, leaving Guillermo confused and seeking clarity. Unlike the vampires, Guillermo is genuinely upset, and this moment reveals how much he’s grown attached to their world. To explain the ending, the series flashes back to an old black-and-white film made by real documentary filmmakers, the Maysles Brothers, showing that perhaps the vampire existence has remained unchanged for decades.

In a playful twist, the finale presents three alternate versions of Nadja’s "perfect" hypnosis scene, each parodying different film styles. The first spoofs a sitcom, implying that Nandor and Guillermo are just everyday people in a romantic relationship, and that the entire series might have been a dream. The second recreates the iconic ending of The Usual Suspects, featuring characters dressed as the main vampires and including flashbacks from previous seasons. The third re-creates the horror classic Rosemary’s Baby, offering a darker, horror-themed ending.

Continue reading the ending (1 more paragraphs)

Amidst these playful scenes, Guillermo watches the old film and realizes that the vampires haven’t changed at all, which is both a humorous and poignant reminder of their unchanging nature. Despite Guillermo’s desire to leave the vampire world behind and pursue his own future, Nandor surprises him by inviting him into a secret vigilante lair—concealed in the coffin that Nandor has built. What appears to be a gesture of gratitude turns out to be a clever way for Nandor to keep Guillermo under their wing, emphasizing that Guillermo’s story isn’t over. The series closes with Guillermo reluctantly joining Nandor in the lair, suggesting that, while the documentary has ended, Guillermo’s adventures with the vampire crew are far from finished. Ultimately, it’s a comically emotional goodbye that hints at new beginnings for Guillermo, intertwined with the ongoing chaos and humor of their supernatural lives.

What We Do in the Shadows ending explained in full

Movie threads

More Movies Like What We Do in the Shadows, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes What We Do in the Shadows tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies like What We Do in the Shadows with supernatural beings in mundane life

Ancient or powerful beings grappling with the absurdities of everyday life. Explore a collection of comedies and mockumentaries where vampires, ghosts, and other supernatural beings face the hilarious challenges of modern life. If you liked the absurd domestic struggles in What We Do in the Shadows, you'll enjoy these films that blend the mythical with the mundane.

  • comedic
  • quirky
  • absurd
  • playful
  • laid-back
  • satirical
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: steady, observational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow a character-driven pattern, often using a mockumentary or observational style. The plot centers on the daily misadventures of supernatural characters as they attempt to fit into human society, leading to comedic misunderstandings and a celebration of quirky found families.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core premise of finding humor in the juxtaposition of the extraordinary and the ordinary. They use a light tone and a steady, slice-of-life pacing to explore themes of belonging and adaptation through a supernatural lens.

Found family comedies with quirky characters like What We Do in the Shadows

Misfits and outsiders forming deep, comedic bonds through shared strangeness. Discover movies that celebrate the bonds of chosen family, especially among groups of lovable misfits. If you enjoyed the vampire flatmate dynamics in What We Do in the Shadows, you'll love these stories about unconventional groups forming a comedic and heartwarming family.

  • heartwarming
  • comedic
  • bittersweet
  • quirky
  • playful
  • friendship
  • Tone: light, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a new member joining an established, quirky group, leading to initial friction that eventually gives way to acceptance and camaraderie. The plot is driven by character interactions and external challenges that strengthen their unique familial bond, culminating in a happy or bittersweet resolution.

Why they belong together: This thread connects movies based on their central theme of found family and their light, comedic execution. They share a similar emotional core focused on friendship, acceptance, and the humor that arises from a group of very different personalities learning to coexist.

If you liked this

Movies Like What We Do in the Shadows

Similar movies to What We Do in the Shadows: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

What We Do in the Shadows (2015) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about What We Do in the Shadows in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app