From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING BOOK SERIES AND FEATURING AN ALL-STAR CAST, THIS MOVIE WILL TAKE YOU ON A MYSTERIOUS AND MAGICAL FANTASY ADVENTURE, CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ --

OVERVIEW:  Enter a world filled with vampires, fascinating creatures and sideshow freaks when Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant arrives on Blu-ray™ Hi-Def, DVD and Digital Download February 23, 2010.  After spending 24 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, Cirque du Freak comes to life onscreen with the help of an all-star cast including John C. Reilly (Step Brothers, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story), Salma Hayek (Frida, Once Upon A Time in Mexico), Ken Watanabe (Batman Begins, The Last Samurai), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man trilogy), Ray Stevenson ("Rome"), Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Bridge to Terebithia) and Chris Massoglia (The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud).

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray™ Hi-Def:  Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect picture and purest digital sound.

• Blu-ray™ ONLY DELETED SCENES
• pocket BLU™:  USHE's groundbreaking pocket BLU app uses iPhone™ and iPod® touch Wi-Fi connections to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player and offers advanced features such as:
  • Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
  • Video Timeline: By turning the phone to landscape mode, users will bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the movie.
  • Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of exclusive bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there's a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
  • Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def.  They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
  • Pop-Up Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray player with this easy and intuitive keyboard that will facilitate such Blu-ray™ features as chatting with friends and sending messages.

And coming soon, Universal will be releasing pocket Blu™ for Blackberry and Android smart phones.

• social BLU™:  Connect with friends on your favorite social networks to share information about your favorite movies, enjoy Blu-ray™ community features and more!
• U-CONTROL™: Universal's exclusive signature feature puts the viewer just one click away from going deeper into the making of the film without ever leaving the movie.
• PICTURE IN PICTURE: Watch featurettes about the making of Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, matching the action onscreen.
• BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more!
  • MY SCENES:  Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie then share with your BD-Live™ buddies!

BONUS FEATURES (DVD and BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF):

• DELETED SCENES
• GUIDE TO BECOMING A VAMPIRE: A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, including casting, filming the movie's biggest scenes and making the Cirque and its freaks come to life.
• TOUR DU FREAK: A behind-the-scenes look at the movie sets of the Cirque.

SYNOPSIS:  Welcome to Cirque du Freak, a traveling sideshow filled with magical creatures, misunderstood freaks and the mysterious vampire, Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). Drawn to the dark, unpredictable world of Cirque, 16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) decides to trade in his ordinary life for a chance to become an immortal vampire. As Darren explores his newfound powers and faces unexpected enemies, he'll find that his existence as a member of the undead is filled with more challenges, suspense and fun than he ever thought possible. Based on the best-selling book series and co-starring Salma Hayek, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson and Willem Dafoe, it's a fast-paced, suspenseful journey critics call, "Imaginative!" (Peter Hall, Cinematical.com).

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF:

Street Date: February 23, 2010

Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Selection Number: 61106483

Running Time: 1 Hour, 49 Minutes

Layers: BD-50

Picture Format: Widescreen

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

Sound:  English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English DVS DD 2.0, English Dolby Digital 2.0, French DTS Surround 5.1, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD:

Street Date: February 23, 2010

Copyright:  2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Selection Number: 61104680

Running time: 1 Hour, 49 Minutes

Layers:  Dual layer

Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen

Aspect Ratio:  2.35:1

Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, disturbing images, thematic elements and some language

Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles

Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English DVS Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and French Dolby Digital 5.1

CAST AND FILMMAKERS

Cast: John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, Ray Stevenson, Patrick Fugit, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek

Directed By: Paul Weitz

Written By: Paul Weitz, Brian Helgeland (Screenplay), Darren Shan (Book)

Executive Producers: Courtney Pledger, Sarah Radclyffe, Dan Kolsrud, Kerry Kohansky

Produced By: Lauren Shuler Donner, Paul Weitz, Ewan Leslie, Andrew Miano

Director of Photography: James Muro

Production Designer: William Arnold

Editor: Leslie Jones

Costume Design By: Judianna Makovsky

Music By: Stephen Trask

Casting By: Joseph Middleton

http://www.thevampiresassistant.net/

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Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.  

SOURCE Universal Studios Home Entertainment