Chupa is a 2023 American fantasy adventure film directed by Jonás Cuarón, and starring Demián Bichir and Christian Slater. Produced by 26th Street Pictures, it was released on April 7, 2023, on Netflix.
Plot[]
Scientist Richard Quinn is hunting down the chupacabra in San Javier to try and harness it's alleged powers. Locating one with its baby in an old mine, he chases it. Injured by a passing vehicle, she leaves her baby hidden to lure the pursuing scientists away.
13-year-old boy Alex lives in Kansas City with his mother. The only hispanic child at his school, he's constantly bullied for being different. Alex flies to Mexico to meet his extended family for the first time, a trip his father had planned for them both before he succumbed to cancer.
Alex meets his grandfather Chava, a former lucha libre champion, energetic wrestling-obsessed cousin Memo, and fearless hip cousin Luna. Just as Alex begins to get his bearings, on his first night he discovers a mythical creature, a young chupacabra cub. He wakes to finding it licking a cut on his hand. As Alex saw that they aren't positively regarded, he says nothing.
A short time later, Luna drives Memo and Alex into town to search for Chava. She explains that he often wanders off. In the market Alex sees a miniature colorful figure, which the seller tells him is a chupacabra, which he says is not such a bad creature.
Back on the road, the kids come across Chava walking with a billy goat. He bought it, but can't explain why. Back on the way to the ranch, they come across some men carefully searching an area where Quinn finds evidence of what believes is of the mythical animal.
Back at the ranch house, there is yet another report on the feared full-grown chupacabra, fabled to feed on farmers' livestock. Chava turns off the TV, saying it's nonsense and lies. Once he goes out, Alex tells Luna that their grandfather is hiding something. He shows her a small music box he found him playing in the barn. She chalks it up to more evidence of his suspected dementia.
Alex takes the music box and plays it in the doorway of the barn in the afternoon. Hearing a strange mix of cooing and other sounds, he turns to see a strange creature. A mix between a mammal and a bird, furry but with wings the size of a small dog, Alex gets it a plate of sausages from the house to see if it's hungry. When a thunder storm rolls through, he promises to protect it.
Alex wakes to Memo looking for him. He tries to usher him out of the barn, but the young chupacabra presents himself as Alex befriended him. He has just gotten Memo calmed down when Luna also shows up. Also initially screaming, the boys show her he's friendly. Luna thinks they should put him out, but Alex insists they need to protect it as it's a baby.
Chava comes in, agreeing with Alex. Chupa, as Alex has named it, approaches him. Chava explains that he'd accidentally hit his parent with his car some nights ago and had found it hiding nearby. He is keeping it a secret as he knows people are looking to exploit it.
Returning to the house, Quinn introduces himself, explaining he's from an American government agency which seeks rare species for medical purposes. Finding his licence plate from the site of the crash, he's traced it to him. Chava refuses to let him snoop around, offering to demonstrate a lucha libre move if he doesn't leave.
After Alex promises Chupa he will find his family, Memo comes to try and teach Chupa to fly. Climbing the barn roof with him, Memo fearlessly 'flies' into a haystack below. Encouraging it to follow, Chupa does get the wings to work a bit before also falling into the hay.
In the house, Chava shows Alex a video of El Perico Verde doing his signature move suplex, which he had taught him himself. He reveals that was the fighter, but never became professional because he met Alex's mother and moved to the States.
Once Chava talks about his son enough to sadden Alex, he pulls out his Game Boy. He recognizes it's his way of avoiding his feelings. Taking the video console,
Soon learns that his new friend Chupa has a secret history with his family, and that determined dangerous scientist Richard Quinn is hunting the misunderstood creature to try and harness his powers. To protect Chupa from impending danger, Alex sets off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Cast[]
- Demián Bichir as Chava[3]
- Christian Slater as Richard Quinn
- Evan Whitten as Alex
- Ashley Ciarra as Luna
- Nickolas Verdugo as Memo
Production[]
In August 2020, Jonás Cuarón was set to direct a chupacabra film, he co-wrote with Marcus Rinehart, Sean Kennedy Moore and Joe Barnathan. Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe produced the film under their 26th Street Pictures banner for Netflix.[4] In June 2021, the film was titled Chupa, with Demián Bichir, Evan Whitten, Ashley Ciarra and Nickolas Verdugo joining the cast.[3]
Filming took place in multiple locations throughout New Mexico starting in August[5] and running through October 2021.[6] The film was scored by Carlos Rafael Rivera.[7]
Release[]
Netflix revealed that the film was set to release in early 2023.[2] In March 2023, a release date of April 7 was announced.[8] The announcement of the name was met with some criticism due to the word "chupa" being a slang term for fellatio in Spanish, Portuguese and Filipino.[9][10]
Reception[]
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 5.5 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 15/10.[11] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 45 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12]
References[]
- ↑ Chupa (July 20, 2022).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Netflix 2023 Film Slate Unveiled: Luther: The Fallen Sun, The Mother, Extraction 2, Heart Of Stone, The Killer, Rebel Moon & Others Get Premiere Dates. Penske Media Corporation (January 18, 2023).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vlessing, Etan (2021-06-17). Demián Bichir & More Board Jonás Cuarón's 'Chupa' Feature At Netflix.
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (2020-08-07). Jonas Cuarón To Direct Untitled Chupacabra Film For Netflix; Chris Columbus Producing.
- ↑ Demían Bichir to star in Netflix film Chupa - Albuquerque Journal. Journal Publishing Company (August 24, 2021).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Netflix film Chupa filming in New Mexico, including Mesilla". Las Cruces Sun-News. August 25, 2021.
- ↑ Carlos Rafael Rivera Scoring Jonas Cuaron's 'Chupa' (en-US).
- ↑ 'Chupa' Images Show Christian Slater in a New Supernatural Adventure (March 1, 2023).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Muir, Ellie (March 15, 2023). "Spanish-speaking viewers point out glaring issue with Netflix's 'Chupa'". The Independent. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Klein, Brennan (March 15, 2023). "Netflix's Chupacabra Movie Roasted Online For Filthy Translation Error". ScreenRant. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ↑ Template:Cite Rotten Tomatoes
- ↑ Template:Cite Metacritic