Ordinarily, the presence of the mythical creatures known as chupacabras would be cause for terror. But with his new film Chupa, director Jonás Cuarón (the co-writer of Gravity, alongside his Oscar-winning father Alfonso) aimed to transform the vampiristic “goat sucker” of folklore into an uplifting family adventure.

Set in the 1990s, the story follows shy 13-year-old Alex (Evan Whitten), who’s still reeling from the death of his father. He leaves behind his home in Kansas City to spend spring break in Mexico, where he’ll meet his extended relatives for the first time. No sooner than Alex is settled with his grandfather and cousins, he discovers a chupacabra cub hiding out on the ranch. Alex quickly bonds with his new friend, whom he names “Chupa.” But the arrival of a calculating scientist puts Chupa in danger, and Alex and his family must band together to protect him. While Chupa may be the titular character, the film’s human cast is scary good, too, from the award winners to the newcomers.

Tony Rivetti Jr./Netflix

Demián Bichir 

Bichir stars in Chupa as Alex’s fun-loving grandfather, Chava. A former lucha libre champion, Chava was forced to retire from wrestling when a fractured skull at the hands of his rival put him in a coma for nearly a month. His memory continues to worsen, which is why his daughter hopes he’ll leave his ranch in San Javier to come live with her and his grandkids in Mexico City. He dearly misses his late son and tries to help Alex deal with their shared grief.

“Demián Bichir is an actor I’ve always admired,” Cuarón said. “He was able to make a character that’s funny, powerful and vulnerable.”

Bichir’s career started in his native Mexico, before he broke out in the United States with his Oscar-nominated performance in the 2011 drama A Better Life. He’s since worked with many of Hollywood’s biggest directors, having featured in Oliver Stone’s Savages, Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant and George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky. He also delivered memorable turns in critically hailed series like Weeds and The Bridge.

You can follow Bichir on Instagram.

Tony Rivetti Jr./Netflix

Christian Slater 

Chupa’s antagonist is Richard Quinn, a scientist obsessed with the legendary chupacabra. Quinn won’t stop until he tracks down the creature and harnesses its powers.

Slater’s distinguished career spans more than 40 years, and he first made a name for himself with iconic performances in Heathers, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and True Romance. More recently, he won a Golden Globe award for his mesmerizing role in Mr. Robot. He’s also become a Netflix favorite, with Chupa coming on the heels of his appearance in Robert Rodriguez’s We Can Be Heroes. He’ll also be part of the illustrious ensemble of Jerry Seinfeld’s Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story.

You can follow Slater on Twitter and Instagram.

Evan Whitten 

Whitten plays Alex, Chupa’s best friend and the heart of the movie. Bashful Alex’s struggle to fit in at school has only been amplified by the recent loss of his father. He initially faces similar difficulties with his grandfather and cousins, as he doesn’t speak Spanish and isn’t familiar with the family legacy. Alex prefers video games and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and his affection for his mother and Chupa showcase his kind soul.

“Evan was shy and reserved,” Cuarón said, “but had an emotional range that showed me he could carry such a difficult role.”

This isn’t the first time Whitten and Slater have worked together: Whitten played a pivotal role in the fourth and final season of Mr. Robot as the younger version of Rami Malek’s Elliot, Slater’s on-screen son. He’s also been a regular in the sci-fi crime drama Next and had recurring roles in The Resident and Big Sky.

You can follow Whitten on Instagram.

Ashley Ciarra as Luna (left) in ‘Chupa’

Ashley Ciarra

Ciarra stars as Alex’s fearless and hip cousin, Luna, who lives in Mexico City with her mom and brother. She’s bilingual, and she credits this to her love of movies and the Beastie Boys. “Ashley has the mature personality the character called for,” Cuarón said.

Born in California, Ciarra has dual citizenship in the US and Mexico, enabling her to experience the best of both cultures. She’s studied different dance styles, from ballet to jazz. Chupa marks her feature film debut.

You can follow Ciarra on Instagram.

Nickolas Verdugo as Memo (left) in ‘Chupa’

Nickolas Verdugo

Verdugo plays Luna’s little brother, Memo, who’s a ball of energy. The youngest of Chava’s grandkids, Memo has followed in his abuelo’s footsteps by developing a passion for wrestling — his usual attire is a lucha libre costume, with no shirt. He only speaks Spanish, but he sure does love to yell “cowabunga!”

Cuarón has said that “Nickolas is more charismatic than the character was on the page.”

Like Ciarra, Verdugo makes his feature film debut in Chupa. When not acting, he writes and sings his own music, while also training to do his own stunt work. 

You can follow Verdugo on Instagram.

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