Review: Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant was one of the Fantastic Fest gala events last month, and demonstrates that we just can't get enough vampire movies at the moment. This film is based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan called The Saga of Darren Shan, a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Though the main character in the book is 12 years old, in the film Darren is 16. He is introduced to a fantastic world of sideshow freaks, vampires and creatures of unknown origins.

The exposition takes viewers on a fast track, so if you aren't familiar with the books you might be confused by references to the "Vampaneze." The special effects and scenery in Cirque Du Freak are visually striking, but they can't hide the stilted acting. John C. Reilly as Larten Crepsley has great comedic timing, but it is difficult to see the character instead of the star power of Reilly. The young stars Chris Massoglia and Josh Hutcherson do well for their first major film, but it is consummate actor William Dafoe who lends his own personal touch without overshadowing the character that really steals the show.

Cirque Du Freak reminds me of both the book and film adaptation of "Something Wicked This Way Comes," but it doesn't hit the mark like Ray Bradbury's screenplay. The friendship and conflicts of Darren and Steve are very similar to that of Will Holloway and Jim Nightshade, as friends become pitted against one another in personal struggles with good and evil. Where the films differ is that Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant could be considered a vampire comedy. The absurdities and humor of the film is quite refreshing compared to the vampire romance of the Twilight series. However, I don't think it's worth another episode to cover The Saga of Darren Shan throughout the entire franchise.