Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
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By Kent Turner -- School Library Journal, 10/21/2009 2:15:00 PM
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| Josh Hutcherson as Steve Photo credit: David Lee/Universal Pictures |
The film is hokum, long on action and short on characterization—a B movie. Set in anonymous, suburban America, best friends Steven and Darren fulfill a prophecy. Steven joins forces with the vampaneze (living dead who kill their victims) for world domination. Meanwhile, Darren becomes the assistant of Crepsley, a 220-year-old vampire. He, like all vampires, nourishes on blood, only stunning and not injuring his victims. To aid Crepsley against the vampaneze, Darren becomes a half-vampire, meaning he has to die first. Why, or what exactly a half-vampire is, isn’t clear. In short, don’t think too much about the plot.
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| Crepsley (John C. Reilly) with girlfriend Madame Truska (Salma Hayak) Photo credit: David Lee/Universal Pictures |
The movie avoids the darker aspects of the vampire myth, and like the books, it’s more into horror than hormones. It’s not until nearly the end that Darren begins an awkward courtship with freak-next-door Rebecca, a monkey girl (she keeps her tail hidden). In fact, when Crepsley shows Darren the ropes on being a vampire, he chooses the nearest source at hand to suck blood from, not a damsel but a wizened farmer. Eew!
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| Best friends Steve (Josh Hutcherson) and Darren (Chris Massoglia) gain admission to the freak show Photo credit: Universal Pictures |
Their characters keep their friendship a secret. Steve, from a broken home, is viewed as a bad influence on preppy, big-man-on-campus Darren. In the inevitable special effects-laden climax, the boys square off. Steve, staring into Darren’s eyes, declares he hates his former friend, providing the only heated passion in the movie—now there’s the love story.
Directed by Paul Weitz
108 min.
Rated PG-13
