Vampires are the in thing at the moment, what with True Blood, Twilight and co doing the rounds at the moment.  The latest franchise to hit the celluloid is Cirque De Freak (or the Vampires assistant as it’s now being called,) are based on the series of books by Darren Shan, entitled vainly enough: the Saga of Darren Shan.

 I read the first three books on which the film is based and there are plotlines in here that haven’t even happened the first three books yet – none of Darren’s family or Steve are yet to show their faces. For the first time ever a film has spoiled a plotline of books I’m reading, rather than the other way round!

This however is not a bad thing, as the books do tend meander and a rather short. Indeed nothing really exciting happens in the second book and we learn very little more in the third apart from the Vampaneze.

The film has actually expanded on these and is the better for it, giving a much better sense of scale and scope to the story.

It tells the tale of a young boy who is initially, against his will, recruited into the ranks of the dead by the rather mysterious Mr Crepsley, who in return saves his best friend - Steve’s life – who has been bitten by a spider that Darren stole from the aforementioned bloodsucker.

However rather than be happy about Darren saving his life Steven is extremely pissed off and believes Darren has stolen his place. As previously Steven had asked said Vampire if he could be his assistant, however Mr Crepsley refused on the grounds that Steve’s blood was very evil.

Into this mix comes Mr Desmond Tiny, a despot of some kind who wants’ the Vampire’s to fight the Vampeneze, who are in fact very evil and...

Yes it’s all rather long winded if I’m honest, however it doesn’t really detract from the film, which for the most part is thoroughly entertaining. True Chris Massoglia as the protagonist can come across a little Keanu (wooden) however by the end of the film he really starts to get into his own.

John C Reilly is the real star of this show however, and brilliantly captures the character from the books, indeed only Alan Rickman as Snape has conveyed a story book character so perfectly.

Other standout parts go the co-stars, Willem Dafoe is brilliant as the Vampire general Gavner Purl, as is Michael Cerveris in a fat suit as the eponymous Mr Tiny. Indeed all the actors play their parts well and no one was really lacking.

The editing is what lets this film down however; the ending is particularly poor - shifting from one scene to another without a sort of link or concept of the passage of time.

Overall however it’s an enjoyable enough adventure and makes me more interested in sequels, after I started reading Book 4 which seems to be more filled with excitement and drama than previous efforts. (lets hope it does well this weekend!).

Share Link: