"While visiting his family in Mexico, teenager Alex gains an unlikely companion when he discovers a young chupacabra hiding in his grandpa's shed. In order to save the mythical creature, Alex and his cousins must embark on the adventure of a lifetime,” reads the synopsis of the new film Chupa. 

​​The cast is comprised of Evan Whitten as Alex, while Nickolas Verdugo and Ashley Ciarra are Alex's cousins, Memo and Luna. Demián Bichir plays Chava and Christian Slater plays Richard Quinn, a scientist chasing Chupa.

The film is inspired by the legend of the Chupacabras, well known in Mexican popular culture.

“The chupacabras [were] first seen in the early 90s in Puerto Rico. After this, there were sightings of the creature all over Latin America. It was believed this creature fed on the blood of goats. We drew inspiration from several animals but also the descriptions of the different chupacabra sightings that were reported in the 90s. Our goal was to create an incredibly cute creature out of terrifying legend. We knew its wings were its most magical attribute. There are winged mammals (bats), but we’ve never seen an animal with fur and feathers,” said Mexican filmmaker Jonás Cuarón, son of award-winning director Alfonso Cuarón, who directs the movie. 

Cuarón, a big fan of E.T. when he was kid, was able to create a creature that “might be a monster but he’s the only one that truly understands what Alex is going through. The bond between a boy and a creature is so pure, like with a pet, it transcends language,” he said. 

“Growing up in both Mexico and the U.S., I’m fortunate to have my own life experiences to inspire the stories that I tell. It's even more special to have found a cast that is able to lend an additional layer of authenticity to Chupa,” said Cuarón in a press release. 

Chupa is set to premiere on Netflix on April 7.