"This is the not-so-true story of four vampires, picked to live in a house, work together, and have their lives taped. Find out what happens when bloodsuckers stop being polite and start getting real. ‘The Real World’!"

‘WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS" Unrated Opens Friday at Kahala 8

A takeoff on the quintessential MTV reality show’s famous intro comes to mind immediately during "What We Do in the Shadows," a slyly hilarious mockumentary about a group of vampires "flatting" together in Wellington, New Zealand. Co-directed by Jemaine Clement of "Flight of the Conchords" fame, "Shadows" takes what could have been a one-joke "Saturday Night Live" sketch and turns it into a very funny, and occasionally even touching, take on brotherhood and friendship.

Taika Waititi, who is the other co-director, is Viago, a dandy from a previous century and our guide to the house. He introduces us to his roomies: 8,000-year-old Nosferatu wannabe Petyr (Ben Fransham), ladies’ man Vladislav (Clement) and bad boy Deacon (Jonathan Brugh).

It takes a little time for "Shadows" to get going as the guys argue about who does the dishes. If the movie had stayed on this level, it would have been just a very long sketch. But things really take off when human Nick (Cori Gonzalez-Maceur) — whom they turn into a vampire — and his software-engineer pal Stu (Stuart Rutherford) — whom they don’t — become friends with the group. How Nick deals with his new identity and shy Stu handles his new friendships give the film a bit more emotional, and comedic, depth.

"Conchords" fans will be happy to see Rhys Darby (who played Murray in that series) reunited with Clement as the head of a local werewolf pack.

If nothing else, it’s certainly more authentic and realistic than recent seasons of "The Real World."

Review by Cary Darling, Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram