Where is What We Do in the Shadows filmed? All shooting locations explored

What We Do in the Shadows is one of the most popular American television series that premiered in 2019. The main idea for this series was born from the black comedy mockumentary of the same name, made in 2014 by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement.

The series is a mockumentary reflecting the life story of four vampire roommates who have been around for centuries. However, as per the main plot, they are having trouble residing in the modern world as they still possess ancient, supernatural powers.

By balancing dark humor with research on the vampire mythos, the show tries to encapsulate the existence of these characters who try to live ordinary human lives despite living far from normal.

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Filming locations of What We Do in the Shadows

Some of the main filming locations of this American show include:

1. Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The majority of What We Do in the Shadows was filmed in Toronto as the program creates an appropriate setting for its zombie people by fusing modern and traditional themes. The atmosphere is enhanced by the Gothic and urban backgrounds combined.

Cranfield House, situated at 450 Pape Avenue, was utilized for exterior shots of the vampire residence in the series. The setting is crucial in developing the show's visual style, combining old-world beauty with modern components to give a feeling of authenticity.

The home, a historic building from the early twentieth century, includes Gothic architectural aspects that contribute to its timeless, evocative charm. Its worn stone walls and medieval design features add to the overall ambiance of the place, implying a lengthy history and deepening the picture of the vampire family.

The tone of What We Do in the Shadows is supported by these architectural decisions, which give the house a sense of stability and continuity—as if vampires had lived there for many centuries.

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2. South Pasadena, California, USA

While much of the shooting occurs in Canada, several exterior California settings including exterior shots of the residence in its vampire form were done at 929 Buena Vista Street in South Pasadena, California.

This is a second-standing location for the residence and gives subtle contrasts between the Canadian Gothic look and the more familiar American suburban look. An old-fashioned, traditional American suburbia is present at South Pasadena's 929 Buena Vista Street, concerned with the humor of the show about vampires trying to fit into everyday society.

Far from the frenetic electricity of the modern city, quiet tree-lined streets create a setting for scenes in which the vampires try and fail to blend into human society.

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Additional filming locations in Wellington, New Zealand

Although the television series revolves quite often in Toronto, the original, first film from 2014 was entirely filmed in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington. The well-known Wellington neighborhood, Te Aro, is visibly omnipresent in the movie, with several significant places acting as hangouts for the vampires.

For example, The Big Kumara nightclub on Dixon Street and other restaurants will be a reflection of the nightlife of Wellington as lived through the eyes of vampires.

Places like Glassons on Cuba Street, and the Victoria Bowling Club on Pirie Street are nostalgic references for the viewer who has seen both the movie and the television series. This shows how both productions have favored real locations influenced by their characters.

Another popular Wellington filming location is Yeung Shing Restaurant, on Willis Street. This is featured in the original movie during a side-splitting scene where one of the characters tries to convince another vampire that he is eating worms. Other Wellington locations include Aro Valley and Kilbirnie, which give a small town, spooky feel to the film and indirectly inspire the look of the series.

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A brief overview of What We Do in the Shadows

Kayvan Novak as Nandor (Image via Youtube/@FX)

What We Do in the Shadows is a comedy-horror television series that premiered on FX on March 27, 2019, and is based on the 2014 film of the same title. The sitcom features four vampires—Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, and Colin Robinson—who live together on Staten Island. They struggle with contemporary life and other supernatural entities, and their human servant, Guillermo, aspires to be a vampire himself.

The main characters of What We Do in the Shadows are played by Kayvan Novak (Nandor), Matt Berry (Laszlo), Natasia Demetriou (Nadja), Harvey Guillén (Guillermo), Mark Proksch (Colin), and Kristen Schaal (The Guide). The series is known for its humor and unique take on vampires. It has received good reviews and several Emmy nominations.

The male lead of the series is Laszlo Cravensworth, played by Matt Berry. Laszlo is an eccentric camp British vampire always oblivious to modern-day quirks and peculiarities despite his age and supernatural power.

He is a character full of contradictions, with old-world manners and a penchant for mischief, yet struggling to fit in with contemporary society. He and his oddly endearing housemates all find mirth in being hilariously out of place while adjusting to modern life.

The last season of What We Do in the Shadows premiered on October 21, 2024. It consists of 11 episodes, with new episodes broadcast each Monday. The series will conclude on December 16th, 2024.

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Closing thoughts

The charm of Toronto and South Pasadena has been utilized to make the mixture of everyday locations with supernatural humor in What We Do in the Shadows. Interested viewers can stream this show on FX.