What We Do Next

What We Do Next

Year: 2023

Runtime: 77 min

Language: English

Director: Stephen Belber

Echo Score: 76
DramaThrillerCrime

Following sixteen years in prison, Elsa Mercado's release forces Councilwoman Sandy James and corporate lawyer Paul Jenkins to reckon with their shared past. The film is a gripping thriller exploring the intersection of racial tension, socioeconomic divides, and the failings within the American criminal justice system, as long-buried secrets and resentments resurface, impacting their lives and those around them.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen What We Do Next yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

What We Do Next (2023) – Ending Explained & Final Scene Breakdown

Still thinking about how What We Do Next (2023) ended? Here’s a full breakdown of the ending, key final moments, major twists, and the deeper meaning behind the film’s conclusion.

The finale of What We Do in the Shadows concludes with the vampire crew, including Guillermo, walking away from their documentary filming, signaling an end to their staged reality. The vampires seem indifferent to the conclusion, but Guillermo, the only one questioning the abrupt ending, seeks clarity about what the crew plans to do with all the footage. The series then shows three alternate versions of Nadja’s hypnosis scene: one humorously spoofing a sitcom where Guillermo and Nandor are just regular people in a romantic relationship, suggesting the entire series might have been a dream; a second mimicking the iconic ending of The Usual Suspects with characters recalling past episodes in a detective-style narrative; and a third recreating the horror classic Rosemary’s Baby, underscoring the show’s playful take on different genres.

Guillermo’s frustration leads to a moment where the vampires reveal an old black-and-white film made by real documentary filmmakers, the Maysles Brothers, which features the vampires’ past activities and reinforces that they haven’t fundamentally changed over the years. Meanwhile, the episode’s comedic highlight revolves around Cravensworth’s Monster, who remains uncontrollably romantic and eager for Laszlo to finish creating his female counterpart, adding more humor to the ending.

In the beginning, Nandor is inspired after defending Guillermo and tries to recruit him for a superhero duo, imagining a crime-fighting partnership akin to Batman. Guillermo, however, clarifies that he doesn’t want to pursue that life but values their friendship. Toward the end, Guillermo attempts to leave the vampire world to find his own path, signaling closure with Nandor and the others. Nonetheless, Nandor then invites Guillermo into his coffin, which doubles as an elevator leading to a secret vigilante lair that Nandor has built, revealing that Guillermo might still be involved in the vampires’ world—this time as a superhero sidekick.

While the series closes with Guillermo’s departure from the documentary crew, it leaves open the possibility that his story will continue in some form, as he joins Nandor in the promised vigilante project. This ending combines a humorous finale with a hint that Guillermo’s journey is far from over, even if the documentary crew has officially wrapped their filming.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:01

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