Directed by Paul Weitz. Starring Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, John C Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Ray Stevenson, Patrick Fugit, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek. 12A cert gen release, 108 min

WHILE CINEMA in general has resisted the recession quite well, the fantasy franchise market has endured a dizzying series of bankruptcies.

Like the rubble-strewn, half- finished apartment complexes that squat – each Ozymandias's lower half – across the Irish midlands, the single-episode franchise stubs that were Eragonand The Golden Compassnow sit sadly unaccompanied in DVD aisles.

In a rather bitter coincidence, Paul Weitz, brother of Chris Weitz, director of The Golden Compass, looks to have delivered another stillborn fantasy saga with this confused, miscast, ugly adaptation of the first three books in Darren Shan's adolescent horror sequence.

Annoyingly, it seems as if there was good material for a bracing movie in the Limerickman's story. Cirque du Freakconcerns two young fellows – one obsessed with classic monsters, the other with spiders – who are drawn into a war between civilised, neck-nibbling vampires and a more brutal class of bloodsucker named the Vampaneze. Darren (Chris Massoglia), the good-natured arachnophile, joins the good vampires, while Steve (Josh Hutcherson), the rebellious horror fan, gets drawn in with their less well-mannered rivals.

The film's most successful moments are those involving the titular freak show that triggers the action when it trundles into the boys' home town. Nodding towards Tod Browning's Freaks, Weitz has some fun by casting Salma Hayek, Patrick Fugit and Ken Watanabe as, respectively, a bearded lady, a snake-boy and a cautious giant. The transgressive nature of the scenario lends the film a few rare uncomfortable charges.

Sadly, little else in Cirque du Freakworks. The historical basis behind the war is obscure, the special effects are far from special and, whereas the kid actors aren't bad, the main adult role appears to have been cast by a maniac. We all love John C Reilly, but, with the best will in the world, this potato- faced, naturalistic actor is no Vincent Price. Playing a senior vampire, Reilly constantly gives the impression of a man casting around for the exit sign.

Don’t worry, John. On this evidence, nobody is going to make you go through the experience again.