‘This legend is real.’
Chupacabra: Dark Seas – aka Chupacabra Terror – is a 2005 American horror film directed by John Shepphird (Jersey Shore Shark Attack) from a screenplay co-written with Steve Jankowski (who also plays Admiral Williams). The movie was a Regent Entertainment production for the Syfy television channel.
Main cast:
John Rhys-Davies (Beasts; Anacondas: Trail of Blood; The Half Dead), Giancarlo Esposito (Bones), Dylan Neal (Vampire Bats; Locusts; Ice Road Terror), Chelan Simmons (It; Monster Island; Snakehead Terror), Paula Shaw (The Centerfold Girls; Freddy vs. Jason; iZombie) and David Millbern (The Slumber Party Massacre; Ice Spiders; The Nurse).
Opening plot:
Doctor 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…
Reviews:
“First, it was actually paced pretty well. I watch a lot of bad movies where I can’t wait for the credits to roll, but despite its subject matter and dialogue, I remained relatively interested in the film. Maybe it’s just because I think cryptozoology and cryptids, in general, are pretty cool, but seeing someone talk about it somewhat intelligently, despite being in a film called Chupacabra Terror, was surprising.” The Wolfman Cometh
“Where drive-in horror movies of the 1950s were either moderately creepy or sublimely ridiculous, this schlocker misses out by relying on cheap thrills and parodistic laughs … 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.” Robert Pardi, TV Guide
Cast and characters:
- John Rhys-Davies as Captain Randolph
- Dylan Neal as Lance Thompson
- Chelan Simmons as Jenny Randolph
- Giancarlo Esposito as Doctor Peña
- Paula Shaw as Millie Hartman
- David Millbern as Rick McGraw
- Luke Darnell as Ensign Peters
- Mark Viniello as El Chupacabra
Buy ‘Nights of Terror’ DVD: Amazon.com
Filming locations:
The Turks and Caicos Islands
Release:
In the US, the film was released on DVD by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on May 3, 2005.
Image credits: The Wolfman Cometh
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