By Amara
Living in an unnamed small town, Darren Shan, has always done the right things, made the correct choices, and is generally an ideal kid. His best friend, Steve, is quite the opposite, always challenging Darren to break the rules. When a mysterious car drops a leaflet for Cirque De Freak, an exciting Freak show coming to town Steve convinces his friend to go. A long time vampire enthusiast, Steve, realizes that one of the show’s performers is an actual ancient vampire, then things get interesting.
Lodged comfortably somewhere between “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” is the “The Vampire’s Assistant”, the world’s newest literature based vampire sensation, here just in time for Halloween. For those who are thinking ‘oh not another vampire movie’ consider that Cirque du Freak has a variety of colorful characters including Selma Hayek as the fortune telling Madame Truska, Ken Watanbe, as the owner of Cir du Freak Mr. Tall, and Patrick Fugit as Evra the Snake Boy. It is a film about vampires, just not in the traditional vein, in fact the comedic Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) often seems less like a vampire and more like a mentor.
The only downside to the film is a total lack of chemistry between Darren and Rebecca the monkey girl, played by Jessica Carlson. The lack of emotion in these scenes made for awkward asides to the generally interesting movie. Ignoring those few moments the engaging environments, funny direct dialogue, and undeniably interesting turn of events make the film well worth viewing.
For parents looking to take their tweens to a flick that will encourage reading, I recommend seeing “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”, but be warned I see a new cultural obsession in the making.
4/5
