Chupacabra Terror
Directed by John Shepphird
Starring John Rhys-Davies, Giancarlo Esposito
Release Date: 2005
DVD Encoding: Region 1
Rated R

Does anyone remember the creature Sleestak from Land of the Lost? If so, then the chupacabra from Chupacabra Terror will seem quite familiar. It’s good to see him working again and that he hasn’t been type-cast.

With a man clad in a rubber monster suit, Chupacabra Terror follows many horror formulas that rank this Chupacabra above the others...of course, above the others does not mean much. But here they are, nonetheless:

1. When the unsuspecting cargo-handlers are given a large box and told not to open it, they naturally have to open it even with the obvious warning signs of the air-holes in the box and the unearthly breathing emanating from within—they inevitably die.
2. The mad scientist who believes that the life of the monster is worth more than everyone else’s life—he inevitably dies.
3. The crackpot military squad sent in to save the day with their fully automatic weapons and explosives—they inevitably die.
4. The greedy shmuck thrown into the movie to offset the banality of the plot and who, also given the opportunity to escape, must return for the money—he inevitably dies.
5. The ditsy blonde who is also the only one who can actually fight the monster, but what would you expect, she knows Tae-Bo—we wish she would die (or at least get naked).

However, with an enormous explosion, the threat of a sequel is thankfully closed. Although, if they do decide to resurface this sunken disaster, we hope the Sleestak will return to his role as the chupacabra.

If we’re lucky, he’ll bring with him little Chaka.