As the vampire-version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Willow liked to say, ”Bored now.” Maybe that’s not completely true for every minute of Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, but it certainly applies more often than not.

A scorched, post-apocalyptic Earth has been the setting for many an epic blockbuster, but rarely an animated feature. Director, Shane Acker , carves a lonely rumbled path in his computer-generated debut film, 9 — a hauntingly magical yarn, spun more for adults and those with darker dispositions than innocent ankle-biters. The grunge patina and creepy cloth creatures (known as Stitchpunks) should be your first clue that 9 isn’t a happy tale to curl up with at night. While Acker’s plot is manifestly stitched together from other well-worn stories, his visual treatment is as pure and creative as they come.