Dvd

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

2009

A fantasy-adventure, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires.

16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That’s the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty.

Newly undead, he joins the Cirque Du Freak, a touring sideshow filled with monstrous creatures from a snakeboy and a wolfman to a bearded lady (Salma Hayek) and a gigantic barker (Ken Watanabe).

Starring John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, Jane Krakowski, Kristen Schaal, Chris Massoglia

Directed by Paul Weitz ('American Dreamz', 'In Good Company', 'About A Boy', 'American Pie')

Written by Paul Weitz, Brian Helgeland (based on the books by Darren Shan)

Thriller, Horror, Fantasy, Family, Adventure, Action | 1hr 44mins | Rated (M) | contains fantasy violence

Flicks review

  • They say imitation is sometimes the greatest of compliments, but what Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant pays is a back-handed sort of lip service that only reminds us of how easy it is to get this sort of movie wrong.

    The film fails because it seems to think that imitating content from superior films will grant it credibility. Pinching the concept from Something Wicked This Way Comes, the structure of Harry Potter and the visuals of a Tim Burton film only serves to highlight how little originality lies within the movie itself. The film is terribly edited, seemingly made up entirely of endless montage sequences, some very awkward cameos (Willem Dafoe and Salma Hayek) and offers no sense of passing time or geography to boot.

    Reilly and Massoglia are an interesting duo to watch but the film's insistence on hovering in a space that's too childish for adults yet too adult for young children ensures that The Vampire's Assistant is merely lost in its own scenery rather than being a spooky thrill-ride down a kid-friendly rollercoaster. Harry Potter this is not.

    By Rajneel Singh, Flicks.co.nz

 Our Rating       2

The Peoples voice

  •  1

    I wish i could watch this movie but i dont think it was released in Whangarei (obviously it wasnt released in a lot of nz places) HOPEFULLY i notice when it comes out on dvd or something..

    By michelle

  • YOU PEOPLE ARE WRONG!!

     5

    This is my favorite move of all time and I have read all the book's and trust me this movie is great!! It's not based for adult's or children it's based for teen's!! I'm 13 years old and the film was great and I could relate with some of the characters. This is the really the first proper vampire movie to come out in a long while!! Just because it's not mushy and romantic like twilight (I do like twilight but it is too mushy) doesn't mean it's bad!! This is a funny and serious a film with lots of fighting!! And John C Rielly isn't that good a Mr Crepsly I'll give you that but he does put some humour into the story:-)

    By Kieran

  • Gutted

    i dont think its going to play in whangaz wich is real stink as i was looking forward to seeing this movie

    By Steve

  • BEep my Bep?!

     1

    It's not Even in New PLymouth Cinemas i was really looking forward to watching it but it seems its not going to be shown!! .. -_-" .. i would like to take a STAND!! i wasted .. moments reading those books.. awaiting the day i got to see this movie.. :D and now the day it comes.. its NOT HAPPENEIING?!?! .. :( >:(

    By The Usual

  • The Vampire's Assistant Not Popular Enough?

     1

    I am a huge fan of the book series of which this movie is based an dhave been eagerly awaiting its release for some time, now I have discovered that it is only playing in a small percentage of New Zealands cinemas! Is it not poular enough? I live in Hawkes Bay and am outraged that I won't be able to see it for another six or so months untill it is out on DVD. Why? Why? I ask is it not playing in so many cinemas? You think it will not be popular enough? Then why is it advertised everywhere. I think the success of the book speaks for itself.

    By Matthew

  • Hes to young.

     3

    Edward atleast was 17 but 16 is just too young...
    Its like.. You want to fall inlove with the character.
    Not feel guilty for falling inlove with him.

    By Ugh

  • interesting

     4

    From the looks of the trailers...it looks interesting but the books are way better!! I don't know who John Reily is and what his acting style is, but I can say for one thing that the actor acting the character, looks crazy rather than serious character.

    By Elaine

  • Vincent- I agree

    I cannot beleive they have John C Reiley as mr crepsley, for a start mr crpesley was tall and skinny not a wee fat turd. Also this movie looks like it is going to destoy the books.

    By Hez

  • nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    WHY?!?!?!?!?
    why did they hav 2 hav John Reilly as Mr. Crepsley
    Mr. C is a serious character not a John Reilly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    By Vincent

 Collective Voice    0000000000003.50

Your review has been posted, you have spoken, and for that we thank you. – Ed.

Tell us all that is right or wrong with this flick:

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Press Reviews

  • Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

    The movie has good special effects and suitably gruesome characters, but it's bloodless.
    Click to read the full review

  • Hollywood Reporter

    Making a vampire movie without any bite is like removing guns from a Western.
    Click to read the full review

  • Los Angeles Times

    Cirque is a harmless bit of fluff with a very cool look, but there's just never enough bite.
    Click to read the full review

  • Rolling Stone (USA)

    Jammed with story threads that don’t cohere, Cirque commits the cardinal sin for a vampire movie: It’s bloodless.
    Click to read the full review

  • Variety (USA)

    The Vampire's Assistant is too busy making impossible claims about just how spectacular its sequels will be to serve up a self-contained story with a satisfying finale.
    Click to read the full review

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