Chupa (2023)

Chupa has the kind of old-fashioned, big-hearted family-adventure glow that’s gotten rare: a story where wonder feels earned, and a mythical creature isn’t a gimmick but a catalyst for grief, healing, and connection. Set on a sunlit ranch in Mexico, it’s rich with a lived-in sense of place and culture, and it lets its characters breathe—especially the guarded grandfather (Demián Bichir) and the lonely kid at the center—so the warmth sneaks up on you. The tone stays gentle and inviting even when danger shows up, with PG-level peril that keeps the momentum without tipping into anything too intense. It’s a little uneven and more sweet than surprising, but if you’re on the fence and want something sincere you can watch with family, this one has real charm.

Chupa is clearly aiming to be a warm, kid-friendly adventure about grief, family roots, and protecting a magical creature, with Mexico’s setting doing a lot of the heavy lifting. The problem is it plays like a checklist of familiar family-movie beats, so the story rarely surprises and the mythology never gets much deeper than “cute creature plus bad guy chase.” Some of the child acting is a bit stiff and the effects can look TV-level, which makes the peril feel softer than the movie wants it to be. If you’re hoping for a sharper fantasy, bigger thrills, or a richer take on the chupacabra legend, you’ll likely be underwhelmed—but younger viewers or anyone wanting a gentle, undemanding watch may still find it sweet enough.