Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
Starring: Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Michael Cerverais, Ray Stevenson, Salma Hayek, Patrick Fugit, Orlando Jones, Jessica Carlson
Directed By: Paul Weitz
Written By: Paul Weitz, Brian Helgeland, Darren Shan (book series)
Grade: B-

The Vampire’s Assistant is the adaptation of the second book in the Darren Shan saga, Cirque du Freak. The film covers most of the first novel as well as the second. This was probably for the best since in order for audiences to get involved in a vampire series, they need more than just an introduction; they need to see the vampire lifestyle, mythology, and bloodshed taking place. While The Vampire’s Assistant is by no means a very brutal film, it hits all of these elements. If they only focused on the first novel, there would be far less of this. The Vampire’s Assistant on it’s own isn’t a great film as it is actually over all forgettable. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a fairly fun film with a vivid setting and an intriguing fantasy geared atmosphere.

Darren Shan (Massoglia) has a pretty good life. He comes from a somewhat overprotective, but loving family, gets excellent grades, and is fairly popular. After skipping class one day with his best friend, Steve (Hutcherson), Darren’s parents are so angered by Steve’s rebellious nature and influence over their son that they forbid him to be friends with him any longer. Darren agrees, but tells Steve that they’re still best friends and nothing has changed. Steve doesn’t feel too good about being Darren’s “secret best friend”.

When the boys find a flyer to the “Cirque du Freak” freak show they sneak off at night and decide to go. The show is secretive and mysterious, but once they get in Darren and Steve embark on quite a spectacle. They see (Fugit) the snake boy who has green, scaly skin like a snake, playing guitar with his pet snake, the bearded lady (Hayek) who has a bad premonition about Darren, and of course the main act, vampire, Larten Crepsley (Reilly), dancing with his colorful and extremely deathly spider. Darren is drawn to the spider and Steve is drawn to Crepsley as Darren has always been obsessed with spiders and Steve vampires.

After the show, Darren steals the spider and hides while he hears Steve plead with Crepsley to turn him in to a vampire, claiming he has nothing in his life worth living for and is ready to leave it all behind to be among the undead. Crepsley tests Steve’s blood even though turning kids is against their policy. He tells him that his blood is evil and to get out while he still can. Head of the Vampanese (the evil vampires), Mr. Tiny (Cerveris), helps Darren make his escape, but only because he wants Darren to join him. When the spider Darren stole bites Steve, Darren makes a bargain with Crepsley, regrettably agreeing to being turned in to a half-vampire, so he can be out and about during the day to be his vampire assistant in return for giving Steve the antidote. So Darren goes to live with the freaks for the time being, rooming with Evra and forming a crush on Rebecca (Carlson), the monkey girl. He still doesn’t feel right about this new life and refuses to drink any blood, making him a very weak vampire. When Steve finds out what Darren did he sees it as a betrayal, as if Darren stole his rightful position. So Steve gets it in the next best place: the Vampanese. He begins killing for them and soon helps them get to Darren as they desire to have him before the war between the two types of vampires emerges, which the Vampanese plan to make sure happens.

Chris Massoglia did a decent job as Darren and was surely likeable enough, but he still could have done better. We don’t really get a sense of what he is going through, his true thoughts and even personality aren’t quite on the surface for us to see. He still passes as the protagonist well enough though. Josh Hutcherson did an excellent job as Steve. After perfectly encompassing his characters in Little Manhattan and Bridge to Terabithia, he nails this role with the same amount of finesse. It is a slight transition for him from the more clean cut or happy go lucky roles he has had in a past to play a much more confused, miserable, and malicious encompassed character. He rides on the skirts of evil, but it is clear there is something innocent and tortured about him.

John C. Reilly also tackles a different role for him as the more serious, yet completely cool and laid back, Larten Crepsley. He encompasses his character’s moral code of getting the blood he needs without having to kill anyone. He wears pain on his face as his character has lived through a lot and knows the vile and deceitful ways of the Vampanese. He still has his quirks, but they are very modest, having a very subtle comedy within him without playing a clearly comical character and holding on to the more solemn and serious image projected.

Patrick Fugit and Orlando Jones are two of the other most notable performances as Evra the Snake Boy and Alexander Ribs, the man with no stomach but all ribs. They both have a confidence and complete comfort in their lifestyle and who they are that makes you enjoy their time on screen all the more, both offering some great comedy eccentricities. Salma Hayek also does pretty well as the exotic bearded lady and Crepsley’s lover. Willem Dafoe gave a fairly forced and flat performance as Gavner Purl and he really didn’t seem to serve much importance or reason in the film. Jane Krakowski offers a sparkling charm and sweet natured personality, adding a sense of kindness and home to the freak show campgrounds. Michael Cerveris, pulls off both his role as Mr. Tiny and that fat suit quite well. Both him and Ray Stevenson as Murlaugh work well as our bad guys. They are slimy, and gloomy, not glamorizing the evil side (although, that can always be a lot of fun), but create the entire essence of slyness and wickedness.

One of The Vampire’s Assistant’s best attributes are the special affects. The most obvious and well constructed place where this occurs in the film is at the freak show. Salma Hayek’s face goes from smooth to instantly growing a beard, we see Orlando Jones’ exposed and grotesque ribs, the scaly, glowing green skin of Patrick Fugit, and the flowing tail of the monkey girl to name a few things. The colors are so vibrant and active that it makes this world so alive, gearing you up for the fantastical adventure. The vampire’s practice of “flitting,” traveling at super fast speeds so that they are simply a blur of beautiful colors, works wonders for the eye.

There are a number of fight sequences, the best saved for last in the battle against good and evil, pinning to best friends against each other on different sides. There isn’t anything terribly violent in the movie and there is very little bloodshed throughout the film. A very important thing to remember while watching this if you plan on getting much enjoyment out of it is that is it based on a young adult novel, mostly geared towards the preteen audience. It’s an extremely tame depiction of vampires, which makes it slightly less memorable. At least the good vampires aren’t whiny though even if they are stuck with their lonely existences and fight the more blood thirsty nature of vampires. Also, placing the good vampires with the freaks represents the loneliness theme and inability for vampires to really fit in with real society, in this case even with other vampires. They’re innocent monsters; viewed as being wrong, but having completely innocent intentions. The Vampire’s Assistant is a pretty simple take on vampires and a lot can be developed and explained or given further importance than it appears to have in this film, hopefully we get that in the next film. Also, since war has been declared before the good vampires and evil Vampanese, there will likely be more action, chase sequences, blood and death in the next film along with the confrontation of a tattered friendship among two tormented boys.