They will quickly find themselves sneaking out to attend the Cirque Du Freak, a traveling freak show led by Larten.

"Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" Movie Review -- Ever since the first Harry Potter film opened, studio executives have been busy alchemists, trying to turn lead into gold.

There are some interesting actors, at least. Reilly, Willem Dafoe and Michael Cerveris all pass through here, to snarl and strut. But it's all pitched a little bit too high and a little off-center.

Casting Michael Cerveris and Ray Stevenson as the big bads is just the icing on the cake. Plus, even with a bunch of so-called freaks running around, The Vampire’s Assistant is gorgeous to look at.

Their tickets to Cirque Du Freak turn out to be passports into an underworld of flea-bitten werewolves, giants and ominous oddballs such as Mr. Tiny (Michael Cerveris), who has little trouble ...

Michael Cerveris’ performance as Mr. Tiny, on the other hand, was the high point of the experience as he did a good job of exuding evil.

As Darren is trained in the art of vampire lore and self-defence, Steve is turned into a weapon of the Vampanezee, by the war-mongering Mr Tiny (Michael Cerveris) and his henchmen.

Egged on by Mr. Tiny (Michael Cerveris), a self-proclaimed war aficionado and a writer of underworld destiny, the characters find themselves sucked into a major battle between good and evil.

Director: Paul Weitz Screenwriters: Paul Weitz, Brian Helgeland, Darren Shan (book) Starring: John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, Jessica Carlson, Michael Cerveris, Ray Stevenson ...

Darren (Chris Massoglia, left) is the young, troubled protagonist of “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” based on the popular young-adult series.