Chupacabra Territory

So, without going in with any kind of expectations, I pressed Play at this Chupacabra Territory, as I found it. The movie started out nicely, I actually enjoyed it and time only brought more interesting things to the act.

And for around 60% of the movie, I can say I was surprised and satisfied. It seemed like a cute little indie project, good dialogue, nice characters and an alright build up. But then it hit that mark I was telling you about and it pretty much all went down the drain. So much plot nicely developed for an ending that seriously was so weak and annoying.

Characters become dumb, logic makes a run for, camera is as shaky as possible and the ending seems to take too long. When it does finally terminate, it does so without any kind of style. I can honestly say, this one is a pass. Not recommended, nothing to see here. Sorry to say so.

Cheers!

A group of friends take a trip to the country in search of the illusive Chupacabra. It begins with the road trip and the characters they meet along the way and then to the woods where it remains until the end.

Chupacabra Territory is the type of found footage that gives the genre a bad name. It's badly written with multiple cringe worthy scenes. The acting is the equivalent of a high school play with a script that could have been written by a fifteen year old boy. The acting is horrible but they really didn't have much to work with. Although the cast seem to be in their late 20's, they speak to each other like teenagers obsessed with boobs and booze. There are masturbation and sex scenes which do absolutely nothing for the story. The conversations and interactions between the friends are awkward, nonsensical, and unrealistic. I'm certain the locals they come in contact with are meant to be comical but got a face palm instead of chuckles out of me.

I'll never understand how a film can fail on so many levels with a decent story line, good cameras, and a presumed group of creative people. You'd think that someone would attempt to save the project before going through with such a disaster that will be there for the public to see forever.

I love Found Footage and this is an abomination of the genre. Avoid at all costs and check out the ever growing list of creative films which use this platform redefine what a movie can be.

And why in the world they didn't use any Groovie Ghoulies or Chixdiggit songs about Chupacabras is beyond me. I'd given an extra point for the research and good taste but this movie lacks both.

Sometimes you really wish you'd get an extra hour and a half of your life back that you wasted on a film. Perhaps it was my own fault - I could have turned it off, but I didn't. I was holding out hope that something might actually happen. Spoiler - it doesn't.

Back in 1999 'The Blair Witch Project' redefined the 'found footage' genre of horror films. It was a 'mock' documentary about some teenagers who set off into the woods to chart a supernatural myth (and end up falling foul to it). That's a summary of 'The Blair Witch Project,' but it can also be applied exactly to 'Lair of the Beast.'

It's all filmed 'first person' as four youngsters try to get footage of a creature known as the 'chupacabra' who allegedly stalks and drinks goats' blood. You can effectively skip the first half. It's all set-up. I know the film is supposed to be a 'slow burn' and gradually build up the terror, but it's just boring and nothing really happens that you won't be able to pick up midway. The characters, although the actors do their best with what they're given. Are totally forgettable and you won't remember their names, let alone care about their plight.

I liked 'The Blair Witch Project' and that was hardly a rollercoaster from start to finish, so I was willing to give this one the benefit of the doubt, hoping the second half will pick up. It never did. The thing about most 'found footage' movies is that they're cheap to produce, but this one really didn't seem to have anything in the way of budget in terms of special effects, so don't get your hopes up there.

It's just shaky-cam footage of the characters which starts out normal and gradually gets harder to see what's going on as the climax starts to draw closer. If you like found footage films then you'll have seen better. Don't bother with this one. Ironically, I own 'The Blair Witch Project' on DVD. I wish I'd just put that on instead, as I haven't seen it for a while.

Oh joy, another 'found footage' movie. Yeah, this is exactly what the world of cinema needs, because this genre is oh-so-spectacular. You do notice the sarcasm permeating there, right? It is no secret that I am not a fan of the 'found footage' genre, not at all. I think it is one of the most stupid genres around, and there are very, very few movies in the genre that actually manages to pass off as being a worthwhile movie to watch. They just tend to fall into the same pitfall and turn out overly generic, and once you have seen one, you have essentially seen all.

The story here is about a group of film-makers venturing out into the woods in search of proof that the elusive Chupacabra does exist.

Wait, what? Isn't this exactly like every other 'found footage' movie? Yup, it sure it. Someone ventures out into the wilderness in order to document the existence of some creature, and they end up being hunted and preyed upon by that very creature.

So there was nothing, absolutely nothing new to be seen in the 2016 "Chupacabra Territory" movie.

The acting in the movie was as it has been in virtually every other 'found footage' movie; nothing to be overly impressed with. I am sure that the people here had fun making this 'found footage' movie, but the entertainment value of the movie was almost non-existent.

As for the special effects, well, let's just say that you shouldn't get your hopes up.

The movie is so predictable that you already know how it will end before you press the play button. The movie was so predictable that even a blind man would go "oh no they didn't..."

I am sure that there is an audience out there for these 'found footage' movies, but I would like to be entertained by a movie that has a professional feel to it, not by a movie that I could have filmed myself by bringing my digital video camera out to the woods.

Found footage is a sub genre of horror that I really enjoy, but recognise it has a lot of quality issues. Chupacabra Territory was one of many weak efforts in the category. It's certainly not alone, nor the worst example, but it contributes to the bad name that found footage has created for itself.

The writing and the characters had very little focus and consistency. One minute a character would be a serious and scientifically-minded documentarian, and the next minute the same character was a crude, frat-boy-esque prankster.

Dialogue was also very patchy. Occasionally conversations would be surprisingly authentic sounding but often they were nonsensical. Character motivations were confusing and inconsistent. Why the comic relief sidekick was even on this trip was a mystery, given his aggressive and vocal disinterest in every aspect.

There was a heavy dose of repetitiveness. For a long stretch of the film, characters seemingly took turns rushing off into the forest for contrived reasons only to get spooked and rush back to their camp.

The chupacabra itself was thankfully kept at a distance from the audience which was a good choice. Less is more always works best with found footage in my opinion. But it's methods didn't really seem to match up with the legend explained at the films outset, and came across as an all-purpose, off-the-shelf monster.

It is worth bearing in mind that Chupacabra Territory was made in 2016. By no means a pioneer in the genre but it is to its credit that it is probably came just before the wave of cheap derivative found footage being routinely churned out in the 2020s.