My journey with the Disney Launchpad series continues with The Last of the Chupacabras. I will admit that I wasn’t as enamoured with this short film as I was with the others. At first. But this film is also the most abstract in terms of its narrative, and to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on after watching it the first time. But after doing some research and listening to some interviews with writer/director Jessica Mendez Siqueiros, I watched the film again. And this time I loved it.
In particular, I loved the performance of lead actress Melba Martinez. She is just so full of emotion and passion that you can’t help but fall in love with her character. And a huge kudos to the puppeteers who brought the titular chupacabra to life. That creature is a fully formed character from frame one, which is a remarkable feat of filmmaking.
And yet, if I’m being honest, even after a second watch, I’m still not sure that I fully understand everything that’s going on in this film. But that’s okay. The Last of the Chupacabras is exploring the traditions of a culture I know very little about, and this film gives me a wonderful entry point to start learning. And first on my list? Googling just what exactly is a chupacabra.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
