Netflix production “Chupa” is an adventure drama film directed by Jonás Cuarón and starring Evan Whitten, Demián Bichir and Christian Slater. The film is about young Alex who travels to San Javier, Mexico to spend time with his grandfather and cousins. However, the family soon encounters and befriends a Chupacabra cub. The group embarks on an adventure to protect the cub from a ruthless scientist trying to capture it and reunite it with its family. Given the film's strong family values and the emotional friendship between young Alex and the mysterious creature, viewers must be wondering about the story's inspiration. If you're wondering if Chupa was inspired by a true event or a book, here's everything you need to know!
Is Chupa Based on a True Story or a Novel?
No, 'Chupa' is not based on a true story. Despite its adventurous plot, the film was not adapted from any children's book, as might be expected. Instead, the film builds on the original concept by Marcus Rinehart, Sean Kennedy Moore, Joe Barnathan, and Brendan Bellomo, who are credited with formulating the story. The group, other than Bellomo, wrote and directed the screenplay for the film, along with Jonás Cuarón, son of Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón. The creative team of the film was obviously inspired by the legend of the Chupacabra.
Chupacabra is a mythical creature originating from folklore in Latin American countries. Known to have a reptilian and alien-like appearance, the creature is believed to suck the blood of animals. The first reported sighting of a Chupacabra took place in the Puerto Rico town of Moca. However, the legend began in the 1990s when the creature was found in Mexico, Panama, Peru, the United States, etc.
In an interview, director Jonás Cuarón talked about the conceptualization of the film. He explained that the script subverted the horror tropes of a monster movie, and the family adventure handling of the movie drew him to the project. Cuarón grew up in Mexico in the 1990s and was well aware of the Chupacabra legend and its cultural significance. “He was obviously a terrifying creature, but there was always something exciting about these stories that brought up the possibility of magic out there,” Cuarón told Remezcla about his early memories of the legend.
In a separate interview, Cuarón revealed that he was inspired by films such as Richard Donner's classic 1985 family adventure 'The Goonies' and the creature films 'ET the Extra-Terrestrial' and 'Gremlins' directed by Steven Spielberg. Cuarón also revealed that he wanted to highlight the importance of family through an adventure story. The relationship between Alex, his cousins, and his grandfather forms the emotional core of the movie as he tries to reunite the Chupacabra cub with his family.
Similarly, Alex reconnects with his roots, adding another dimension to the story, while the director highlights various aspects of Mexican culture. “This movie essentially revolves around the point that your family is always there for you. The actor who plays Alex, Evan Whitten, said this about the main theme of the movie in an interview.
Ultimately, 'Chupa' is inspired by the mythical Chupacabra, which is mainly portrayed in the media as a monstrous creature. But the film tells a heartwarming, feel-good, family-friendly tale of courage and determination through Alex's adventure with Chupa. The film is inspired by the classic family adventure films of the 1980s, giving it a unique aesthetic. The importance of family and the relationship between the main characters form the emotional core of the film, resonating emotionally for the audience.
Where Was Netflix's Chupa Filmed?
Netflix production “Chupa” directed by Jonás Cuarón is a fantasy adventure film about a young teenager named Alex who encounters a chupacabra hiding on his grandfather's farm while visiting his extended family home. He forms an unexpected bond with the mythical creature, discovering that a dangerous scientist named Richard Quinn views him as a villain and a danger to society. He's after the misunderstood creature to use his powers. Alex and his cousins embark on the adventure of a lifetime to save Chupa and realize that life gets a lot lighter when you share the burdens with your loved ones.
Starring Demián Bichir, Evan Whitten, Christian Slater, Ashley Ciarra, and Nickolas Verdugo, the action-adventure film is mostly set in Mexico as Alex flies from Kansas City to Mexico to meet his extended family for the first time. As Alex tries to save Chupa from impending danger, the image of the mythical creature mentioned in the background of various locations will make you wonder where 'Chupa' was filmed. In this case, you may be interested in what we share on the same topic!
Chupa Filming Locations
“Chupa” was filmed in New Mexico, specifically in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Mesilla, Estancia, and Zia Pueblo. According to reports, principal photography for the fantasy movie began in August 2021 and was completed in November of the same year. The producers employed more than 900 local New Mexicans for the production as cast and crew members. Now, without further ado, let's get into a detailed account of all the specific locations featured in the Netflix movie!
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, became one of the main filming locations for 'Chupa' as the production team set up camps in various parts of the city. With the variety of cultural events and historical sites in Santa Fe, it is a popular destination for many tourists and filmmakers. As such, there are several highlights that you can see in the background of several scenes, including the historic Bandelier National Monument, Valles Caldera, and Museum Hill.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Several episodes of 'Chupa' have been lensed in and around Albuquerque, as the city's grounds and landmarks stand in the background of many scenes. The shooting unit searched several locations in Albuquerque to locate Mexican sites. Over the years it has hosted the production of many movies and TV shows including 'Odd Thomas', 'Big Sky', 'Outer Range' and 'Roswell, New Mexico'.
Other Locations in New Mexico
The shooting unit even went to other locations in New Mexico for shooting purposes. For example, the towns of Mesilla in Doña Ana County and Estancia in Torrance County are a few filming locations for 'Chupa' where many vital scenes were filmed. The cast and crew were also seen recording some sequences in and around Zia Pueblo, a census-designated site in Sandoval County.
Interestingly enough, director Jonás Cuarón used a real-life dog, Harper, to try out the role of Chupa, and was replaced by a computer-generated creature during post-production. In a conversation with Remezcla in early April 2023, she said, “…So, instead of Chupa, we had a dog named Harper. The dog was so cute that it brought that natural feeling. (Harper) instantly bonded with the kids.”