Ever since Big Fish, we haven’t had a good movie packed with magical realism and circus imagery—you know, the kind of movie everyone needs. Luckily, Cirque du Freak is coming along to save the day, being based on a series of children’s books about a traveling freak show and all. And this isn’t your average freak show either—it’s got werewolves and vampires along with your typical 1,000 pound man and bearded lady.

And who better to welcome the young hero, played by Chris Kelly, into the land of the freaks than John C. Reilly? He’s starring in the movie as the vampire Larten Crepsley, and Empire Online has the first image of Reilly in his full otherworldly getup. Of course, since the image is taken from far away, the two characters—the other is Kelly as 14-year-old Darren Shah—are mostly part of the scenery. But wow, what scenery!

You can see the image in its full size at Empire and get a look at what looks like it might be a really gorgeous movie. It comes out next February, and if it’s as promising as this photo looks, it might be a welcome relief among the crappy parodies and romantic comedies that usually populate that month. We owe you one, John C. Reilly!