Well, that was disappointing. Listen, there’s a difference between indie horror, zero budget horror and just outright terrible. I’m going to leave it up to you to decide which category Amityville Chupacabra falls into. Which is really upsetting because I had high hopes for this flick considering it features two of my favorite things – true crime and cryptozoology. Presented by Gregory Hatanaka, Amityville Chupacabra is another entry in the saga that follows some sort of disaster either in the Amityville Horror House or in the surrounding area. They’re rarely related to the 1979 cult classic based on real events. Again, I’m not sure which category this one falls into, although I did see a shot of the real Amityville Horror House in the beginning. I think. I haven’t been there in about six years.
Shot by Cinema Epoch, Cineridge Entertainment and Cult Cinema, Amityville Chupacabra was written by Julie Anne Prescott and directed by Will Collazo. It was produced by Gregory Hatanaka & Jamie Grefe and features editing/cinematography by Will Collazo and Michael Ochotorena. Lead cast members include Julie Anne Prescott, Misty Wagner, Michael Ochotorena, Evan Jacobs, Will Collazo, Blaize Tudor, and Jeff Webb. May I just say, props to Julie Anne Prescott for continuing her career as a queen of scream and to Josh Wasylink for creating the awesome chupacabra suit. Not surprising considering Wasylink worked on hits like Silent Night, V/H/S Viral and Cabin Fever 3. Unfortunately, that really kind of wraps up anything positive I have to say about this movie.
Audio has what I call “fishbowl sound” where it sounds like you’re in a confined space with a slight echo. The camera quality, especially during interior shots, is very fuzzy or out of focus. The pace and suspense are almost nonexistent, as is the overall atmosphere. Most of the deaths are saved for the end of the movie and bring nothing imaginative to the table. Acting performances are generally okay if not uninspired by the whole shebang. It’s just a not fully thought out scifi drama and horror thriller that didn’t meet my expectations at all. And I’m used to reviewing movies that don’t have a million-dollar budget. Luckily, it’s available to view in full on YouTube – which I’ve included below – so you have the chance to watch it for yourself and let me know if I’m full of shit.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 10.
