And film is the medium that brings it all together.
Circus performers are family, friends, foe or all of the above. The circus as discussed in these essays encompasses the big top, the midway, the sideshow and the freak show it becomes backdrop, character, catalyst and setting and it is welcoming, malicious or terrifying. The films discussed herein are an eclectic group, ranging from early silent comedies to animated, 21st century examples, in which circuses serve as liminal or carnivalesque spaces wherein characters-and by extension audience members-can confront issues as far-reaching as labor relations, sensuality, identity, ethics, and more. This is the beginning of Darren's story.Ĭircuses and film are a natural pairing, and the new essays making up this volume begin the exploration of how these two forms of entertainment have often worked together to create a spectacle of onscreen alchemy. Crepsley and what follows is his horrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires. As if by destiny, Darren is pulled to Mr. Crepsley- is a vampire! Stever remains after the show finishes to confront the vampire- but his motives are surprising! In the shadows of a crumbling theater, a horrified Darren eavesdrops on his friend and the vampire, and is witness to a monstrous, disturbing plea. In the midst of the excitement, true terror raises its head when Steve recognizes that one of the performers- Mr. A young boy named Darren Shan and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the Cirque Du Freak, a wonderfully gothic freak show featuring weird, frightening half human/half animals who interact terrifyingly with the audience. Start the tale from the beginning in the book that inspired the feature film The Vampire's Assistant and petrified devoted fans worldwide. Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readersįrom the Master of Horror comes the first gripping book in the twelve book New York Times bestselling Saga of Darren Shan.