CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT

US, 2009, 109 minutes, Colour.
John C. Reilly, Josh Hutchison, Chris Massoglia, Michael Cerveris, Ray Stevenson, Patrick Fugit, Colleen Camp, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek, Orlando Jones, Frankie Faizon, Willem Dafoe.
Directed by Paul Weitz.

Perhaps adult audiences were wondering, while watching this contemporary vampire film (which does not rely very much on traditional vampire lore), why they were not feeling more involved. A suggested reason is that the story, the performances and the direction are aimed directly at a young teenage audience who would 'get it' and not want the subtleties associated with a film aimed at adults. There is nothing wrong with this. Speaking of vampires, this is also the case with the 2008 box-office phenomenon, Twilight. It was produced for a teenage sensibility.

That is probably the best way to describe Cirque du Freak. It is made for a teenage (younger teenage) sensibility – and, more probably, for boys.

Paul Weitz (both American Pie and About a Boy) made his previous film for a younger audience, the campaigned-against Golden Compass. (His brother Paul, with whom he directed Golden Compass went off to direct the other teenage vampire film, the Twilight sequel, New Moon.) He stays with fantasy elements (very well illustrated during the unusual opening credits sequence) while the story is set in a perfectly ordinary middle America home and school. It opens with the hero, Darren, playing computer games in a coffin while his funeral is going on. So, the question is, how did he get there?

Darren is a good student but is pressurised by his parents to be a good and exemplary boy (especially after some window breaking misbehaviour with his best friend, the irresponsible Steve). When they are given a flyer for the Cirque de Freaks, off they go without approval. Well, you will have to see the rest if this intrigues you (in a young teenage way) and see how Darren steals a spider, makes a bargain with a friendly vampire to become a half vampire, lives with the 'freaks' who include Salma Hayek as a bearded lady, is dragooned into confronting Stephen as a war between the good vampires and the bad vampires is engineered by an evil fat man called Mr Tiny.

Josh Hutcherson has been making films for some years and is more assured on screen as Steve than Chris Massoglia who is perfectly ordinary (where more oomph would have been helpful and credible) as Darren. John C. Reilly makes the friendly vampire almost believable. And (though not immediately recognisable) Willem Dafoe comes in and out as a mysterious and spooky figure.

It all comes together at the end but only to provide the basis for the next instalment from a series of novels by Darren Shan (the central character's name).

1.The popular series of novels? The age niche group? For boys, for adults?

2.The film as an introduction to the characters, their world, a world of fantasy? Preparing for a sequel?

3.The opening credits, the variety of the sketches, the mood, the animation, the aspects of the occult?

4.Vampire lore – for teenagers, the traditions, different and more genial, less hostile and violent? Yet quests and battles?

5.Darren in the coffin, his funeral, playing the computer games, his voice-over, the introductory mystery?

6.Chris Massoglia as Darren, his personality, lack of charismatic communication? His parents, his sister? Their expectations, pressures? School, his being obedient? His friendship with Steve, Steve tempting him to skip class, breaking the windows and lights, the reaction of the teacher? The principal? His parents, wanting him to break his friendship with Steve? Darren as rebellious?

7.The contrast with Steve, absent father, alcoholic mother, Darren as his best friend? Wild, skipping class, breaking things, tempting Darren? His being hurt in their discussions about the friendship having to be broken, a friendship in secret? His reaction to the ticket for the cirque, his disobedience, tempting Darren?

8.The cirque, going to the theatre, the money, the ticket, the biter? Mr Tall? and his questions, allowing them in? The audience, the arena? The variety of acts? The bearded lady and her vision and fears? Alexander Ribs and his skeleton frame? Rhamus Twobellies? Mr Tall and his comments? Evra and the snakes?

9.Mr Crepsley? Steve recognising him from the book, vampire, his speech, his love for the spider, the bright colours of the spider? People’s fear? Darren, his love of spiders, stealing? Listening in to Steve’s appeal to become a vampire? Taking the spider home?

10.Mr Crepsley and his discussions with Steve, his discussions with his vampire visitor? Meeting Darren, the bargain for healing Steve? Their flying to the hospital? Steve’s recovery? Darren and his having to die, the drops, unconscious, the fall? Being brought back to life? The funeral, Steve’s angry reaction at the graveside?

11.Darren, the spider, at school, Steve being bitten, going to hospital, Darren and his sense of duty?

12.Mr Crepsley and Darren, the vehicle, going to the cirque, settling in, Darren wandering around, meeting the people, having to share the room with Evra, their discussions? Meeting the woman whose arm reappeared? The interaction with the biters?

13.Mr Tiny and his sinister presence at the opening of the film? With Murlaugh? Their picking up Darren, trying to persuade him to join with them? The proposal, his getting out? The history of the truce between the vampires and their opponents? Steve and his believing Mr Tiny’s lies, persuaded to join them?

14.Rebecca, nice, her tail? Life with the cirque? Her work? Darren and his friendship with her? Her tail, allowing him to drink her blood? Using her tail to loosen the bonds and escape?

15.Steve, the build-up to the confrontation, his argument with Darren? Darren not wanting to fight? Wanting to keep his humanity, drinking the blood, transformed?

16.Mr Crepsley and Murlaugh, their fight, Murlaugh’s death, transformed into a biter? Mr Tiny, his watching, applause? Wanting the civil war to break out?

17.Darren’s parents, tied up, watching the fight? Their being freed, returning home, Darren with his sister, the family being hypnotised and not remembering him?

18.Mr Crepsley, peace, Darren? Steve going with Mr Tiny? The temporary truce? The setting for war in a sequel?

19.A fantasy for teens? Their knowledge of vampire history and lore? The jokey approach?