You needed to drink human blood to stay alive, but you weren't some horror-flick villain; you were you, born human--a nice person, even.Thus is the dilemma of the young narrator-protagonist, Darren Shan, in this tremendously suspenseful, oft-sickening sequel to Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan.In the first book, Darren Welcome to the Cirque Du Freak, a traveling sideshow filled with magical creatures, misunderstood freaks, and the mysterious vampire, Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is a 2009 American dark fantasy film adaptation of the Vampire Blood trilogy of the book series The Saga of Darren Shan by author Darren Shan. There are several disturbing scenes of vampires stabbing, punching, kicking, and otherwise wiping the floor with each other (although none of it gets particularly gory), along with potentially disturbing images … The film received mixed reviews and was a commercial failure. Directed by Paul Weitz. October 23, … Drawn to the dark, unpredictable world of the Cirque, 16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) decides to trade in his ordinary life for a chance to become an immortal vampire. Welcome to the Cirque Du Freak, a traveling sideshow filled with magical creatures, misunderstood freaks, and the mysterious vampire, Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). Top Critic. With Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek, Josh Hutcherson. Parents need to know that amped-up violence and language make The Vampire's Assistant movie too mature for younger tween fans of the Cirque du Freak books it's based on. What if you were an unwilling vampire? Drawn to the dark, unpredictable world of the Cirque, 16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) decides to trade in his ordinary life for a chance to become an immortal vampire. Cirque du Freak is disjointed and disorganized, and it meanders when it needs to gallop. As Darren explores his newfound … 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. I like the movie. Teenager Darren Shan meets a mysterious man at a freak show who turns out to be a vampire. Peter Hartlaub San Francisco Chronicle. HOWEVER, as an already "Cirque du Freak" book series fan, I find it lacking in truth to the book.