What We Do in the Shadows is a True Comedy Sandbox – SDCC Video

Video for What We Do in the Shadows at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC).

I’m a Millennial too; I was born in ’91. Sorry, I should clarify: 991. I’m like an OG Millennial – first millennium. The man who says this looks great for a 1028-year-old. Despite a few dark circles under his eyes, his pale skin, his long black hair, and his Victorian wardrobe, he doesn’t look a day over – well, 28. Have you tried the blood… he asks me. I shake my head. …sicle. Bloodsicle. They’re over yonder – zero dollars and zero cents. It is quite hot – I could use for a refreshing popsicle – even if there’s a bit of blood in it. I start to look, but notice something… or someone at my neck. It’s another strangely dressed man, pale as the other, with a fur coat draped over him, and lighter hair. He retreats a bit when I notice him – his upper lip quivers, revealing his incisors to be quite sharp. I ask him to join me for bloodsicle, to quench his hunger, and he agrees; but not before his eyes entrance mine and I feel myself a bit hypnotized. There’s no mild sedative in the bloodsicles. There’s no mild sedative in the bloodsicles.

What We Do in the Shadows is a sandbox-style, comedy-centric experiential activation under the FX Fearless Forum at 2019’s San Diego Comic-Con. But unlike all other immersive experiences at SDCC, What We Do in the Shadows has no time limit, no linear narrative, and no objective – it is the purest form of a sandbox immersive imaginable. Participants are invited into the humble home of a group of four vampiric roommates. And much like the FX television show and film of the same name, this isn’t a blend of horror and comedy like JFI’s American Horror Story 1984 or a hybrid of drama and comedy like Brooklyn Nine-Nine – it’s just funny. So, stay as long as you want, interact with the vampires, and leave when you’re ready – if they let you.

While there is no direct narrative to focus on, there is plenty of depth to explore here. Each vampire has a different personality and they’re happy to discuss their pasts, the horrors of living with roommates, as well as the troubles of living as a vampire. Vigo (Josh LaCasse) is refined, noble, and nostalgic for the past. He’ll tell you about the chaise lounge that Napoleon Bonaparte gifted to him, the chair Pope Pius IV awarded him, and the couch he got at IKEA. He’ll also tell you how vampires invented Spanish: We got tired of speaking the king’s English. Taco. Burrito. Chimichanga. They have lost their meaning over time. They used to be instruments of torture – now they’re delicious treats you can buy on the street corner. Prince Rodrick (Job Barnett) is more relaxed, conversational, and open to discussing whether he’s more of a Brad Pitt or a Tom Cruise. And if he really trusts you, he’ll complain that his sister is always nagging him about being six months late in rent. Colette (Caroline Cotter) may delight guests with a comedy routine: she can impersonate any celebrity, but her favorite is Jerry Seinfeld. What’s the deal with airplane food? Just make sure you clap for her.

Perhaps the most unique vampire is Ringo (Jeff Black), who talks in third person and performs vampire magic tricks for audiences. After numbering his humans, he proceeds with some of the best card tricks I’ve seen since Helder Guimaraes (Borrowed Time, Invisible Tango). He presses a deck into his palm, transforming them into a single card that also just so happens to be the guest’s card; five participants select a card, and Ringo finds each of these cards resting in a different one of his pockets; and he floats a mint through the air with no wires or string, only for it to land in his mouth. It didn’t take a vampire’s hypnotism to mesmerize me here.

With San Diego Comic-Con as a setting – or “Virgin Con” as Prince Rodrick calls it – they incorporate much of the convention atmosphere into their dialogue as well. The vampires love to see the merch you’ve purchased, and hear about the other experiences you’ve done and all the cosplays you’ve seen. Further, vampire rules are very much apparent here. There are no crosses, garlic, or silver inside. Ringo raises his cloak every time the door opens, shielding himself from a sun that will ignite him in flames. We even witnessed a vampire run across the FX Fearless Forum early in the morning, with his cloak over his head, bent over as he ran back home – hopefully, a walk of shame after another blood orgy.

Finally, there’s more to do inside their home than just talk to our hospitable hosts. They have lured most humans in with the promise of blood… sicles. These popsicles are tasty and a great way to fight the San Diego heat. More importantly, there’s a photobooth in the back, allowing guests to show off their light – and dark sides. First, a high school yearbook-esque photo is taken, and then a more sinister image is taken as a cloak is draped over your shoulders. With some clever editing, the combination results in a respectable person transforming into a ghoulish denizen in one fantastic gif – perfect for sharing on social media.

What We Do in the Shadows is the funniest adult playground at San Diego Comic-Con. Giving guests the autonomy to leave when they want truly enhances audience connection and satisfaction, instead of rushing them through an experience. The vampires within are wonderful at improvisation and are the funniest non-humans I have ever met. And Ringo’s magic is beyond belief. This experience may be smaller in scope, but it excels in intimacy and memorability. The silly fun of What We Do in the Shadows resonates across the entirety of SDCC and becomes an instant success. Next time you’re invited into a vampire’s house, go – because YOLF: You only live forever.

Check out What We Do in the Shadows on FX, and catch up on more of our Comic-Con 2019 coverage here. Follow our Event Guide for more immersive entertainment throughout the year.

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