Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Plot

Teenager, Darren Shan, meets a mysterious man at a freak show who turns out to be a Vampire. After a series of events Darren must leave his normal life and go on the road with the Cirque Du Freak and become a Vampire.

Release Year: 2009

Rating: 6.0/10 (17,115 voted)

Critic's Score: 43/100

Director:
Paul Weitz

Stars: Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek

Storyline
Teenager Darren Shan is an excellent student and the pride and joy of his perfect middle-class family; his best friend is the reckless Steve. When they receive a flyer with an advertisement for a freak show, they sneak to the theater to see the attractions. The ringmaster is a vampire called Larten Crepsley, that has a lethal spider. After the show, Steve tells Darren to go home. However he returns and overhears Steve unsuccessfully trying to convince Larten to transform him into a vampire. Darren steals Larten's spider which bites Steve later and he seeks out Larten asking for an antidote for his friend. Larten proposes a deal to Darren.

Writers: Paul Weitz, Brian Helgeland

Cast:

John C. Reilly
–

Larten Crepsley

Josh Hutcherson
–

Steve

Chris Massoglia
–

Darren Shan

Jessica Carlson
–

Rebecca

Michael Cerveris
–

Mr. Tiny

Ray Stevenson
–

Murlaugh

Patrick Fugit
–

Evra the Snake Boy

Daniel Newman
–

Pete

Morgan Saylor
–

Annie

Don McManus
–

Mr. Shan

Colleen Camp
–

Mrs. Shan

Ken Watanabe
–

Mr. Tall

Salma Hayek
–

Madame Truska

Orlando Jones
–

Alexander Ribs

Frankie Faison
–

Rhamus Twobellies

Taglines:
Meet Darren. He's sixteen going on immortal.

Details

Official Website:
Official site |
Official site [France] |

Release Date: 23 October 2009

Filming Locations: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $40,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $6,293,205
(USA)
(25 October 2009)
(3074 Screens)

Gross: $13,698,390
(USA)
(15 November 2009)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

USA: 109 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Students who attended a school in which a few scenes of the movie were shot were cast as extras.

Goofs:

Continuity:
At the very beginning, when Steve puts a rose on Darren's coffin, there is no spider bite/bruise on his right cheek. Later, when Steve is shaking Darren in the coffin (obviously before the graveyard), the bruise is there.

Quotes:

Evra the Snake Boy:
[Embarrassed after shaking Darren's hand and leaving some skin behind]
Sorry about that, shedding. Itches like crazy.

Darren Shan:
[slightly disturbed]
… right…

Evra the Snake Boy:
[scratches head sheepishly]
Better go wash that, before you get pink eye…

User Review

Entertaining Movie

Rating: 8/10


I watched a screening of this movie and loved it. I wasn't sure whether
to expect a children's movie or adult movie, and it came out to be more
like the latter. I grew up reading & watching "Goosebumps", and this
movie made me feel like I was watching a "Goosebumps" film tailored for
adults.

John C. Reilly does a really great job acting; it's nice to see him do
something more challenging again. If you are turned off by his work in
movies like Walk Hard, Talladega Nights, etc., give him a chance in
this movie. He really impressed me. Patrick Fugit was my favorite actor
in the film; his character was visually an eyesore but also in some odd
way incredibly adorable. And Chris Massoglia, of course, was a great
lead actor.

I would watch this film again when it officially comes out in theaters.