Watch Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is a 2009 American dark fantasy film loosely based on the first three novels in The Saga of Darren Shan series by author Darren Shan. The movie was directed by Paul Weitz and stars Chris Massoglia as Darren Shan, John C. Reilly as Larten Crepsley, and Salma Hayek as Madame Truska. The story revolves around Darren Shan, a seemingly average teenager who stumbles upon a mysterious traveling circus, the Cirque du Freak. After attending the show with his best friend Steve, Darren becomes obsessed with one of the acts, the spider performer Madame Octa. He steals the spider and brings it home, unknowingly awakening a chain of events that will change his life forever.

Darren soon finds himself thrust into the world of vampires and becomes the apprentice of the enigmatic Larten Crepsley, a vampire with a conscience. Crepsley agrees to train Darren in the ways of the vampire in exchange for the return of Madame Octa. As Darren learns the ropes, he also becomes embroiled in a long-standing conflict between two factions of vampires, the Vampanese and the Vampire Generals.

As the conflict intensifies, Darren and his new vampire friends must navigate a dangerous world of treachery and betrayal, all while safeguarding their humanity and trying to prevent a war between the two vampire factions. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters including Madame Truska, a bearded lady, and Mr. Tiny, the leader of the Cirque du Freak.

The film has a dark, moody atmosphere and is teeming with supernatural creatures, from the aforementioned vampires to werewolves, snake boys, and more. The special effects and makeup are impressive, with each character boasting their own unique look and feel. The film also features some impressive acrobatics and stunts thanks to the performers from Cirque du Soleil.

One of the strengths of the movie is the performances of the cast. Chris Massoglia delivers a solid performance as Darren Shan, convincingly portraying a character who is forced to grow up too fast. John C. Reilly is a standout as Larten Crepsley, infusing the character with a gravitas and depth that goes beyond what is written on the page. Salma Hayek is memorable in her small role as Madame Truska, bringing a sense of mystery and otherworldliness to the character.

Overall, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is an entertaining fantasy adventure that will appeal to fans of the young adult genre. The film successfully balances humor, drama, and action, creating an engaging world that will keep viewers invested until the very end. While it may not be the most groundbreaking entry in the genre, it is a fun and entertaining movie that is worth a watch.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is a 2009 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 43.