Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

3 Stars

A riveting medley of horror, comedy and romance.

Rating: PG
Stars: John C. Reilly, Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson

What’s the story?
Based on the novel of the same name, young Darren Shan (Massoglia) is caught off guard when the Cirque du Freak comes to town and remodels the colourless path his life seems to be taking. In an endeavour to save his friend’s life, Darren is forced to morph into something from hell: a vampire. Leaving a seemingly conventional existence behind, Darren joins the Cirque as Mr. Crepsley’s vampire assistant, slowly learning the peculiarities of these bloodsucking creatures of the night.

Why see it?
With the vampire craze in full swing, you may not think that this movie would stand out. But director Paul Weitz will prove you wrong. The actors keep the mood light even while portraying such dark entities. The conflict present in the film keeps you engaged and there is enough humour to balance out the horror. With an engaging plot coupled with impressive graphics, this movie is ideal for a stress-free night with your friends.

Problems?
The casting for this film could have been a little better. John C. Reilly is known mostly as a comedic actor so you can’t help but wonder if his jokes are merely falling flat or if he isn’t joking around at all. As well, the plot is missing some key elements from the book, which makes it sometimes difficult to follow.

All in all:
A new take on the vampire movie that has something for everyone.