Salt Lake Tribune Review
This adventure based on the first three books of author
Darren Shan's 12-book "The Saga of
Darren Shan" has some interesting characters -- but the central one, named
Darren Shan, isn't one of them. Darren (
Chris Massoglia) is a typical high-school student who goes with his hooligan best pal Steve (
Josh Hutcherson) to a performance at an unusual freak show, whose headline act is illusionist/vampire Larten Crepsley (
John C. Reilly). When Darren steals Crepsley's spider, Madam Octa, it sets off a chain of events in which Crepsley turns Darren into a half-vampire, sending Steve into the clutches of the evil Mr. Tiny (Michael Cerveris). Director
Paul Weitz ("American Dreamz") has fun creating the haunted-house atmosphere of the freak show, and attracts a cool cast that includes
Salma Hayek, Patrick Fugit and
Ken Watanabe. The problem is at the center: Massoglia is so bland he barely registers on film, which is a bit too appropriate for a vampire role.
-- Sean P. Means
The rundown: This thriller, based on
Darren Shan's books, fills its freak show with cool characters — but the kid in the center (
Chris Massoglia) is boring. 108 minutes. (SPM)
Synopsis: 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 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.
