Chupa (2023) is a family movie that is based on the Chupacabra, a mythical creature from Mexican legend.
The news report scene at the beginning of the movie is about a Chupacabra sighting in Latin America. The reporter describes the Chupacabra as a mythical creature that feeds off the blood of goats. The last sighting is in the town of San Javier, Mexico. The details of the Chupacabra sighting on the news foreshadow the setting and the film's plot.
The camera then shifts to the inside of the cafeteria at Lakewood Middle School, Kansas City. Alex is a Mexican boy who often eats alone, as he has no friends his age. He is also bullied by an older kid. He lives with his parents who are also of Mexican heritage.
Viewers see a strong representation of Spanish-speaking people in Chupa, as many actors playing the main roles are Latinx. Luna (Ashley Ciarra) is a person of color and the main female role. Jonas Cuaron, the director, is a Latino. There are some lines spoken in Spanish, with English translations in subtitles.
The setting mostly takes place in Mexico, and there are noticeable clues about the Chupacabra sighting from dead goats and newspaper articles. The kids believe in the existence of the Chupacabra, but Chava, the kids' father, thinks this is all a myth.
Richard Quinn is a journalist who gathers facts, clues, evidence, and newspaper articles about the Chupacabra. He is on an assignment: to find and capture a Chupacabra and prove its existence.
Alex thinks he heard a Chupacabra at night, but it is only a false alarm. The next day, however, he sees a baby Chupa in his room. Alex meets the baby Chupa again later at night and befriends the creature. He feels he's not alone anymore.
Luna takes Alex on an adventure by driving a car around despite her young age. They find a journalist and scientist and become more fascinated and aware of the Chupacabra's existence. Their fascination increases as they see a baby Chupa.
The scenes switch between the kids and Richard Quinn. The climax is when baby Chupa gets captured in a cage. Alex sees a real Chupacabra, which turns out to be baby Chupa's mother. He saves the baby Chupa and lets the baby Chupa go with his family. The epilogue shows how Alex loves Mexico after experiencing a real adventure.
