The Unsettling Link Between The Boys and What We Do In The Shadows
What do Prime Video’s The Boys and FX’s What We Do in the Shadows have in common? At first glance, the answer is not much. These two series explore vastly different niches within the entertainment landscape. The Boys offers a sharp, satirical take on the superhero genre, while What We Do in the Shadows revels in the quirks of vampire lore mixed with genuine humor and emotional depth. While neither show can be strictly categorized as horror, they both feature elements of the genre, pushing the boundaries of light-heartedness and gore throughout their runs.
The real connection between these two seemingly disparate series lies in the behind-the-scenes production teams, particularly in their shared special effects departments. Props from one show occasionally make their way into the other, creating a unique overlap in creative resources. On What We Do in the Shadows, practical and digital effects often conjure fantastical scenarios, including CG bats and clever invisibility tricks. For example, the team uses puppeteering to enhance expressions on the Nadja doll, while visual effects build illusions during outdoor scenes and shapeshifting moments.
Over on The Boys, the visual effects take on a different tone, focusing on harshly realistic and sometimes gruesome displays right from explosive death scenes to bizarre sequences like the one involving Termite in season three. These effects help to reinforce the series’ narrative, making astonishing moments, like Homelander’s laser beams cutting through foes or The Deep’s unsettling interactions with marine life, feel all the more tangible.
However, both shows, despite their distinct usage of effects, find common ground through a quirky connection involving an actor and a prop. Spoiler alert for both series: Haley Joel Osment portrayed Charles/Mesmer in season one of The Boys, a telepathic superhero who aids the titular group in uncovering the backstory of Kimiko, played by Karen Fukuhara. Things take a grim turn when Kimiko crushes Mesmer’s arm, leading to his betrayal of the group after he divulges information to A-Train, played by Jessie T. Usher. Ultimately, the character meets a grim fate at the hands of Billy Butcher, portrayed by Karl Urban, who dispatches him in a brutal fashion.
What’s particularly fascinating is the fate of the prop used for Mesmer’s arm. According to Osment, the mutilated arm became an interesting piece of behind-the-scenes history when it was reused in season two of What We Do in the Shadows. In the episode titled Resurrection, Osment’s later-resurrected character, a zombie familiar named Topher Delmonico, is introduced. Osment shared an amusing anecdote about how that very arm prop was still available in the warehouse of the effects team, who happened to be collaborating on both shows. This inspired them to incorporate the existing prop into the comedic scene where Guillermo, played by Harvey Guillén, inadvertently dismembers Topher.
It’s an amusing twist of fate that showcases the creativity and interconnectedness of modern television production, proving that even the most serious of series can share a cheeky, albeit creepy connection.
