DVD Review: Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant

Posted Feb 26, 2010 by Kevin Walker

Updated Feb 26, 2010 at 03:11 PM

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
Stars: John C. Reilly, Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson
Director: Paul Weitz (“American Dreamz”)
The plot: Sixteen-year-old Darren (Massoglia) is tapped to become “half a vampire” to act as an assistant to a centuries-old vampire, Larten Crepsley (Reilly), who travels in a stage show that features supernatural freaks. In the meantime, Darren’s best friend, Steve (Hutcherson), falls in with an evil being looking to destroy Crepsley and his freaky friends.
Bottom line:  This is not as bad as many reviews led me to believe, although it probably goes without saying that it pales somewhat in comparison with the Harry Potter series. I liked the idea of two best friends ending up on opposite sides, that’s an usual twist. The movie looks great, Reilly (surprisingly, to me) makes a good vampire. The major problem is that the movie seems more like a prelude to a better story about a battle between the good and bad elements of the supernatural. It’s too much back story, not enough high-stakes drama.
Extras: Deleted scenes, a guide to becoming a vampire and a tour of the circus camp grounds.
Quote: “Vampires don’t need cellphones.”
109 minutes (PG-13; sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language)