Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Name: Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Released: October 23, 2009
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 43
Cast: Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 94 Ratings

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5.7

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5.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 94 Ratings

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The Vampire's Assistant

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: October 23, 2009 | PG-13

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

Summary: 16-year-old Darren was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend Steve, got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That's the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley turns him into16-year-old Darren was like most kids in his suburban neighborhood. He hung out with his best friend Steve, got decent grades and usually stayed out of trouble. But when he and his buddy stumble upon a traveling freak show, things begin to change inside Darren. That's the exact moment when a vampire named Larten Crepsley turns him into something, well, bloodthirsty. Newly undead, he joins the Cirque Du Freak, a touring sideshow filled with monstrous creatures from a snakeboy and a wolfman to a bearded lady and a gigantic barker. As Darren flexes his newfound powers in this dark world, he becomes a treasured pawn between the vampires and their deadlier counterparts. And while trying to survive, one boy will struggle to keep their brewing war from devouring what's left of his humanity. (Universal Pictures)… Expand

Director: Paul Weitz

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

Andrea Gronvall

Mixing horror and comedy while minimizing the gore, writer-director Paul Weitz (About a Boy) serves up a witty adventure fantasy with a tasty dollop of schadenfreude. Read full review

Claudia Puig

It's creepy but tinged with sarcasm and infused with silly fun. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Has its moments of fun, many of them having to do with Reilly's deadpan comic style. But the movie lacks the original edge of its better predecessors. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

The finished film has been tinkered with and tweaked so thoroughly that it borders on the incomprehensible. Read full review

Kirk Honeycutt

Making a vampire movie without any bite is like removing guns from a Western. Read full review

Peter Debruge

The Vampire's Assistant is too busy making impossible claims about just how spectacular its sequels will be to serve up a self-contained story with a satisfying finale. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Calls to mind Grandpa taking out his dentures and trying to put on a comedy monster show for little kids at Halloween: When he tries to be scary, he's goofy, but when he tries to be goofy, he's scary. Read full review

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User Reviews

Lari

Dec 7, 2010

woops! accidentally forgot to change my score! I give it a 2

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DrewK

Nov 6, 2009

Yes i have read the books, and they were amazing. All of them in the series is pure gold and genius. After i read all the books over as many times as i could that year, i heard they were making a film. Now do not get me wrong, i thought the movie looked interesting to see. I wanted to see Yes i have read the books, and they were amazing. All of them in the series is pure gold and genius. After i read all the books over as many times as i could that year, i heard they were making a film. Now do not get me wrong, i thought the movie looked interesting to see. I wanted to see how the director would film this movie. I saw it and i have to say this: The books were better for obvious reasons. But the movie was not half bad. Sure, it got so much wrong in the movie that it did not even have to be based off the movie, it could have been a movie all in its own it was that off. But it was interesting. John C. Reilly did a marvelous job although i would not have chose him for the role. And of course there was room for a sequel. So i will go see the sequel. Everyone should go see this film, even if you do not like the actors, vampires, or anything along those lines. I am not asking you to love it or even like it, i am just asking for you to give it a try.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Zoe

Nov 4, 2009

i thought that the actors suited their characters really well. I love any film to do with vampires so this one got a thumbs up. I've read the first book and i thought that it was brilliant, after reading it and then seeing the film, the book is definately better. But, my advice is see i thought that the actors suited their characters really well. I love any film to do with vampires so this one got a thumbs up. I've read the first book and i thought that it was brilliant, after reading it and then seeing the film, the book is definately better. But, my advice is see the film!! It's good!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Zilcell

May 11, 2012

Like they say, there is corny dialogue. At the same time it has quite of bit of action and it is somewhat funny. The only problem is that there has yet to be a sequel to this that answers the questions we still have.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

heybuddymovies

Aug 1, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When this first came out, we had a group of young couples that wanted to go to the drive-in. I donâ… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jamison12

Jan 20, 2014

Although John C. Reily tries hard, he can't overcome a poorly written script, poor dialogue, stale acting, horrid plot transitions, an overabundance use of special effects, and a scattered plot

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Noraiversen

Jan 31, 2014

The books are magical, but sinister with a dark, twisted kind of humour. The only thing the books and the film have in common is the title. The films are of a totally different story, and it kind off ruined my feelings for the beloved book series. The whole thing was very disappointing. TheThe books are magical, but sinister with a dark, twisted kind of humour. The only thing the books and the film have in common is the title. The films are of a totally different story, and it kind off ruined my feelings for the beloved book series. The whole thing was very disappointing. The dialogues are bad, the corny comments are bad, the special effects are BAD. The characters are weird only, and have no similarities with the book characters. The director deserves a slap in the face.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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