Simply the E.T of modern times, Chupa is a must-watch film, which shows the bond between a boy and a creature that has lost its way. The union of two loners is followed by lots of action and adventure, making it a fun-filled family adventure that everyone can easily relate to.

The story revolves around a confused kid named, Alex, from Kansas City and Chupacabra, a mythical blood-sucking flying creature, which is presumed to be a doctor’s ‘mirage’ for a cure. In the 98-minute movie, Dr Quinn, a doctor, gets his hands close to the koala-cum-cat animal, yet it manages to escape.

Set in the 1990s, it beautifully depicts the era when mobile phones were rare, the internet was still not easily accessible and long distances were real. Alex, who lost his father to cancer, was traveling to Mexico, originally planned by his father. Usually taunted for his Mexican lineage back home, he hates everything related to Mexico, yet the trip brought a positive change in him.

With a wrestling-obsessed Memo, a fearless, hip cousin Luna and a former wrestling champion as a grandpa, the group gelled together in Mexico. With the appearance of baby chupacabra, fabled to feed on farmers’ livestock, the group decides to reunite the cub with its family and the race begins. Chupa and Alex were experiencing similar feelings and they developed a pure bond, which was evident in the latter part of the film.

Director Jonas Cuaron takes the path Steven Spielberg used 40 years back, making you fall in love with the animal. Alex’s discovery of Chupa in the barn, using music as a tool to connect and howl together, reminds one of Elliott and E.T., while Memo’s teaching the baby chupacabra to fly is quite similar to Gertie teaching E.T. how to talk.

Inspired by the Latin American legend of the bloodsucking creature, he turns it into a family adventure out of a traditionally horrifying subject. The visual effects team must get credit for coming up with a cute creature.

Grandpa Chava a.k.a. Azul was played by Oscar-winning Demian Bichir, while Christian Slater is Doctor Quinn, who is on the trail of the mythical creature. Evan Whitten as Alex stole the show with his brilliant acting, which eventually gives everyone what they want, not Dr Quinn. Themes of family, love and loss are addressed intelligently, while the message is clear; one should be proud of one’s heritage and family, no matter what others say.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 29th, 2023