Chupacabra: Dark Seas

Chupacabra: Dark Seas (released on DVD as Chupacabra Terror) is a 2005 Syfy channel original film directed by John Shepphird and starring John Rhys-Davies, Giancarlo Esposito, Dylan Neal, and Chelan Simmons. It was filmed on location in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Chupacabra Terror
DVD cover
Written bySteve Jankowski
John Shepphird
Directed byJohn Shepphird
StarringJohn Rhys-Davies
Giancarlo Esposito
Dylan Neal
Chelan Simmons
Music byPenka Kouneva
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
Production
Producer(s)Charles Arthur Berg
Paul Colichman
Steve Jankowski
Stephen P. Jarchow
Scott Putman
Jeffrey Schenck
CinematographyNeal Brown
Editor(s)Lawrence A. Maddox
Running time89 mins.
DistributorSony Pictures Home Entertainment
Regent Worldwide Sales
Release
Original releaseJanuary 29, 2005

Plot

Dr. Peña (Esposito), a cryptozoologist, manages to capture El Chupacabra on a remote Caribbean island and smuggles it aboard the cruise ship Regent Queen, commanded by Captain Randolph (Rhys-Davies) with the assistance of his young daughter, and ship fitness instructor, Jenny (Simmons). The Regent Queen has been experiencing a rash of burglaries, and Federal Marshal Lance Thompson (Neal) is brought on board to investigate.

Unfortunately, crew members sneak into the cargo hold on their break; their curiosity getting the better of them, they accidentally unlock the container holding the creature. It kills them and escapes into the ship. When bodies start turning up, all passengers are ordered back to their cabins. However, an old woman is trying to catch her Shih Tzu; she follows it into the casino, where she finds, to her horror, El Chupacabra devouring her dog. Seeing the woman a better meal, the beast attacks and eats her.

U.S. Navy Seals are called in to help stop the creature, but their efforts are hindered by Dr. Peña, who believes the creature's life is more valuable than the lives of those aboard. The Navy Seals are killed off one by one by the beast and Dr. Peña resorts to using Jenny as live bait to recapture El Chupacabra. However, he is foiled when the beast outsmarts and fatally wounds him. Jenny is saved by Lance and they meet up with her father, who has set the engines to explode as all the other passengers have been evacuated. They flee on a lifeboat moments before the ship blows up and sinks the ship, taking the beast with it. As the group watches the ship sink, Captain Randolph tells Jenny and Lance that he has decided to retire and write his memoirs.

Cast

Home media

The film was released on DVD by Columbia TriStar on May 3, 2005. It was later released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on July 3, 2016.[1]

Reception

Chupacabra: Dark Seas received mostly negative reviews upon its release, with many critics criticizing the film's acting, dialogue, and cliched script. TV Guide panned the film, awarding it 1/4 stars criticizing the film's reliance on cheap thrills and parodistic laughs stating, "[though] the gore may satisfy die-hard monster mashers, but the cheesy-looking creature isn’t fit to touch the gills of the Creature from the Black Lagoon".[2] Andrew Smith from Popcorn Pictures awarded the film a score of 3/10, writing, "Chupacabra: Dark Seas contains some alright moments but it’s not nearly enough to have to sit through yet another bargain basement creature feature from the Sci-Fi Channel. With an appalling script which goes through the motions from the opening scene right up until the end credits, even the decent make-up effects can’t save this mess."[3] David Nusair from ReelFilm Reviews gave the film 2/4 stars, calling it "a mildly entertaining horror flick". In his review, Nusair criticized the film's dialogue, and cliched story.[4]

Scott Weinberg from DVD Talk called the film "hilarious" writing, "Every conceivable component of the movie - the comically amateurish acting performances, the head-slappingly stupid screenplay, the dry-as-paint directorial approach, the gore-soaked "guy in a rubber suit" monster, the goofball CGI cruise ship used in the various establishing shots—just screams of accidental entertainment."[5]

gollark: Yes, just *talking* about murder generally is fine.
gollark: yeeeees.
gollark: MUAHAHAHAHAHA! I SHALL ENFORCE THE RULES!
gollark: Wait, *I* can enforce it with my staff powers!
gollark: I have my reasons, gibson.

References
  1. "Chupacabra Terror (2005) - John Shepphird". Allmovie.com. AllMovie. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  2. Pardi, Robert. "Chupacabra Terror Review". TV Guide. Robert Pardi. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  3. Smith, Andrew. "Chupacabra: Dark Seas (2005)". Popcorn Pictures.co.uk. Andrew Smith. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  4. Nusair, David. "Chupacabra Terror (2005) - A Review by David Nusair". ReelFilm.com. David Nusair. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  5. Weinberg, Scott. "Chupacabra Terror : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". DVD Talk.com. Scott Weinberg. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
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