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Tired of Teenage Vampire Movies?

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (20)

cirque_du_f.jpg

Below we have the trailer for Cirque du Freak:The Vampire’s Assistant (a Moviefone exclusive!), which is another vampire movie, but this one is kind of different. It’s like The Karate Kid crossed with vampires. More importantly: No glitter.

It’s supposed to be a vampire comedy, but John C. Reilly notwithstanding, the trailer doesn’t really strike me as that funny. In fact, it even has a slight Afterschool special vibe to the production quality (why do we still use Afterschool specials as a frame of reference? How long has it been since anyone has seen one of those?)

There is a certain amusing irony to the movie. It comes from Paul Weitz, who directed both American Pie and About a Boy with his brother, Chris Weitz. They’ve apparently decided to split up and make their own movies now. Paul is making this one, while Chris, ironically, is making the Twilight sequel, New Moon. Their respective track records since the separation haven’t exactly been great (Paul is responsible for In Good Company and American Dreamz, while Chris directed Golden Compass), but dollars to donuts, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant is a better movie than New Moon, but will make about 10 percent of New Moon’s gross.

Here’s the logline, if you’re curious: A young boy named Darren Shan meets a mysterious man at a freak show who turns out to be a Vampire. After a series of events Darren must leave his normal life and go on the road with the Cirque Du Freak and become a Vampire.

And here’s the trailer (a Moviefone exclusive!):









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Comments

Um, excuse me, did I see Jane Krakowski and Patrick Fugit in there? Huh. I did. That looked... kind of amusing. Like the sort of thing I wouldn't skip past while channel surfing on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at August 5, 2009 10:46 PM

...Willem Dafoe? Did I catch his crazy ass in a quick cut?

I am intrigued.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at August 5, 2009 10:59 PM

Oh I briefly read this as a manga, I mean just first episode of it, but seemed like it was a popular enough story.

Posted by: yocean at August 6, 2009 12:57 AM

Y'know what? I'm going to take a chance on it...I haven't succumbed to any robot movies this summer, so I think I'll see if I can slide into the kiddie pool and get refreshed. Something tells me that the newbies with two bucks and some duct tape will save this mess.

Posted by: replica at August 6, 2009 1:41 AM

*this mess being the sad, damp diaper state of original thought that we've become accustomed to from Hollywood.

Posted by: replica at August 6, 2009 1:43 AM

reminds me of a cure video.

im in, i'm not finished, i'm in as long as my interest isn't fucked with.

that will be all.
for now.

go away.

Posted by: gp at August 6, 2009 1:59 AM

Was that Salma Hayek under that beard or was I just having a Satanico Pandemonium flashback? ...that also had a beard.

Posted by: NoDice at August 6, 2009 3:14 AM

If I see one more vampire movie/book/show, I'm going to start stabbing random people in the neck.

Posted by: Nicole at August 6, 2009 10:12 AM

Wait....those books are supposed to be funny? They try their hardest to look all spooky 'n' shit. And why use the title of the second book? And why does the author use his own name for his protagonist?

I suppose it has to be a comedy because...it's Dewey Cox! Look at him!

Posted by: Jay at August 6, 2009 10:15 AM

i loved these books as a kid even went to a book signing with the author and was the only person who ahd read the books. Have been waiting for this trailer for a while but Im disappointed they have made it into a comedy and now doubt among some of the fans there will be complaints that is has been americanised. The books never actually mention a setting or time period but the darkness and horror of the books dont work when the tagline is suburban boy becomes vampire.

Posted by: jim of the lower case at August 6, 2009 10:35 AM

Another argument for not giving your whole damn movie away in the trailer. Looks actually somewhat interesting...and people might see it if they didn't already know how the whole movie was going to go.

Posted by: Jim Doggie at August 6, 2009 11:39 AM

Definitely looks interesting, and I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. Seems like it could be suffereing for a case of bad traileritis.

Posted by: Kolby at August 6, 2009 12:52 PM

SUFFERING FROM. Ugh. First Facebook shits all over my day and now I can't spell.

Posted by: Kolby at August 6, 2009 12:54 PM

Kill me if you must, but at least it looks better than Twilight. It looks...entertaining. Fight fire with nukes, I always say. Though, I'd love if we could get a vampire buddy comedy with Michael Sheen's character from "Sparkletards: The Quickening" and John C. Reilly's character from the above trailer.

(To the one other person who thought, "Hey, why not throw Will Ferrell into the mix?"...you are not alone.)

Posted by: DoctorControversy at August 6, 2009 2:35 PM

why isn't there Johnny Depp and Tim Burton in it?

Posted by: carrie at August 6, 2009 2:36 PM

"Sparkletards: The Quickening"

HAHAHA!!

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at August 6, 2009 2:59 PM

Awww Patrick Fugit, this shit is beneath you.

Posted by: Sarz at August 6, 2009 7:20 PM

I read the books when I was in middle school, and I loved them. They were cheesy, but enjoyable, nothing like twilight. The movie makes it look less dark than the books however, should be interesting.

Posted by: Person at August 6, 2009 10:49 PM

Mmm...i probably won't see this. I'm not sure who this is supposed to appeal to. I know you can't judge a film by it's trailer. But so far this has no appeal to me at all.

Posted by: Neena at August 7, 2009 3:27 PM

Count me among those who loved the books when I was younger. I'm confused by this film though; given how complex the books get within their own mythology, I can't see this being even a remotely faithful adaptation. I guess they could cover the initial trilogy (and end with the final battle against Murtagh, though they'd have to drag it out a lot more than the book did, which would in itself be a significant change), but all the "They're coming for you, Darren" stuff makes it seem like they're bringing in the Vampaneze, in which case...ugh. Why bother slapping the "Cirque Du Freak" name on it if they're not going to bother keeping what bits of the plotline made it unique and interesting in the first place?

Posted by: Shay at August 7, 2009 5:23 PM