Fangs Down Under(er): Three Vampire Films from New Zealand and Australia

by Catherine

Australia and New Zealand have a long and proud history when it comes to cinema. Whether it’s cult classic comedies like The Castle, hard-hitting dramas such as Once Were Warriors, or epic films on the grand scales of The Lord of the Rings extended editions, the two sibling nations know how to make a movie.

Which is why it’s such a shame that we have so few vampire films. Despite many of our actors heading overseas and playing vampires (I’m looking at you, The Originals), we don’t have as many offerings as I think we should.

That said, the big three we have are pretty great, so in chronological order, let’s go!


Perfect Creature (2007)

In this steampunk-style alternate history from director Glenn Standring (The Irrefutable Truth about Demons, The Dead Lands), vampires and humans live together in harmony. Instead of feeding on humans, the all-male race of vampires obtain their blood through a religious ritual, and in return act as immortal protectors.

However the fragile peace is under threat when it appears that a vampire may have been killing in the settlement of Jamestown, Nuovo Zelandia. Together one vampire Brother and a human detective must work together to solve the mystery – which only intensifies when it becomes clear that the detective is the next woman on the killer’s list of targets.

Perfect Creature is available on Prime Video (US and UK), or the NZ Film On Demand website.

(Fun fact: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was originally cast as one of the Brothers, but dropped out due to other commitments. He would go on to play a vampire in the 2013 series Dracula.)


Daybreakers (2009)

Instead of an alternate history, Daybreakers takes place in a dark future where, after almost the entire population has become vampires, with the remaining humans either trapped in high-tech blood farms or struggling to survive while on the run.

(In this capitalism sucks metaphor, it’s less eat the rich and more don’t get eaten by the rich.)

But with blood supplies almost about to run out, and despite the best efforts of scientists an artificial blood substitute is still far away, society is on the verge of collapse. With corporations on the hunt for the last free humans, a vampire hematologist’s work is interrupted by an alleged former vampire, who may just have a cure for vampirism.

Daybreakers is available to watch on Prime Video.


What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

Of course it had to be here, the story of vampires flatting together in Wellington, and whose lives are interrupted by having to deal with a brand new vampire – all while they have a documentary crew following them in both their daily routines and as they prepare for the highlight of the year, The Unholy Masquerade.

This is the film that started it all. Without What We Do In The Shadows, we wouldn’t have the American television show, the Police 24-7-style spin-off Wellington Paranormal, the interactive live experience Second Unit, nor Deacon’s podcast or one-vampire shows.

This film is is so supremely Kiwi – and Wellington-specific – I don’t know where to start. From meat raffles to the Unholy Masquerade being held at the Victoria Bowling Club, night clubs on Courtney Place and encounters with werewolves on the waterfront, What We Do In the Shadows is both the perfect vampire comedy and the perfect Kiwi showcase.

What We Do In The Shadows is available to watch on Prime Video, Apple TV, and NZ Film on Demand.

(Fun fact: I have met Deacon, Petyr, Pauline, and Officers O’Leary and Minogue. And I’m not talking about the actors.)


So there you have it, three vampire films from Australia and New Zealand. How many have you seen?

While there does not seem to be any more vampires on the horizon for New Zealand, I will content myself with hunting down Firebite, an eight episode vampire television series set in the Australian outback.

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