undead brainspasm: Rodrigo Aragão

An initial Brainspasm back in January revealed the existence of a new cryptozoological horror film hailing from Brazil: A Noite do Chupacabras [trans. Night of the Chupacabras] (Brazil-2011; dir. Rodrigo Aragão) -- with a subsequent update in March that revealed the true extent of the film's gorily outrageous nature. Since then our readers have obviously been keen to see more, as these pages have been getting decent visitor numbers.

Well, Backbrain cryptid hunter Avery Guerra has tracked down the official DVD cover, lots of pictures from the film and its production, as well as a Making-Of video, the latter of which isn't in English unfortunately, but is nevertheless worth a look:

The Official DVD cover:

Normally in the world of cryptozoological study we rarely get an effective in-your-face view of the titular monster, as cryptids have a tendency to be elusive -- blurring camera shots, mimicking elements of the natural landscape, evading capture and generally causing great frustration in the ranks of monster hunters. But in this case you get to look the Chupacabras right in the eye -- or at least the teeth!

The chupacabra is a cryptid with a territory that centers on Latin American countries, particularly Puerto Rica and Mexico, though it has been sighted in the US as well. The name is Spanish and derives from two words meaning "goat sucker". Yes, it has a habit of drinking the blood of livestock, especially goats.

The chupacabra featured in the X-Files episode, "El Mundo Gira" and came up against the Scooby Gang in the film Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico. There have been several independent films featuring the legendary critter -- such as El Chupacabra (UK/US-2003; dir. Brennon Jones, Paul Wynne); Chupacabra Terror (US-2005; dir. John Shepphird); the Troma flick Legend of the Chupacabra (US-2000; dir. Joe Castro); Guns of El Chupacabra (US-1997; dir. Donald G. Jackson); Night of the Chupacabra (US-2005; dir. Ted Rivera), a sci-fi parody that interprets the chupacabra as an alien; and assorted other low-budget efforts. Coming up in 2011 is, apparently, a studio-based US horror thriller titled Chupacabra, starring Billy Zane, Daniel Stern and Daryl Hannah.

Cryptid Hunter Avery has located an interesting-looking Brazilian film featuring the Chupacabra, titled A Noite do Chupacabras (trans. Night of the Chupacabras). Directed by Rodrigo Aragão, it tells the story of a family feud sparked by something monstrous lurking in the jungle.

Synopsis (roughly translated):

A young couple returns to their land of origin in the interior of Espírito Santo in Brazil, a journey through forests and mountains full of mysteries, legends and natural beauty. Douglas Silva (Joel Caetano) finds his family upset over the mysterious death of their farm animals and old conflicts that have long plagued the area's rival families resurface. The Silva brothers are increasingly certain that the deaths were orchestrated by the neighbouring Carvalho family. However, Douglas' father knows that something more sinister lurks in the woods. With the families at war, they are faced with an evil greater than they can imagine. Between fights, chases, hunts and lots of shooting, the mythical creature, the Chupacabra, reveals itself for the first time. (Source)

Here is the teaser trailer:

Aragão's previous film was Mangue Negro, or Mud Zombies (2008), in which pollution of the local mangrove swamp causes zombie-like creatures to rise from the waters and do that thing that zombies do. (Source)

The Night of the Chupacabras, produced by Fábulas Negras Produções, is currently filming, and aims for a release date of July 2011. It is expected that it will have Spanish and English subtitles like the previous film.

Crew:

Executive Producer: Hermann Pidner
Director: Rodrigo Aragão
Production: Kika Oliveira, Mayra Alarcón
Production set: Ana Carolina Braga, Kika Oliveira and Mayra Alarcón
Director of Photography: Secundo Rezende
Camera: Secundo Rezende and Dani Marchesi
Special Effects and Visual Effects: Rodrigo Aragão, Douglas Belasco, Murillo Ribeiro, Reginaldo Dallmaschio, and Alexandre Mello.
Set Designer: Giovanni Coio, Ulisses Debian and Walderrama dos Santos
Costumes: Mayra Alarcón
Continuity: Giovanni Coio
Editing Musical, Sound Design and Mixing: Hermano Pidner
Pyrotechnics and Electronics: Rodrigo Aragão, Alzir Vaillant and Jorgemar de Oliveira.

Cast:

Chupacabras: Walderrama dos Santos
Kika Silva: Kika Oliveira
Maria Alicia: Mayra Alarcón
Mr. Pedro Silva: Markus Konka
Mrs. Clara Silva: Margot Benatti
Alzir Silva: Alzir Vaillant
Douglas Silva: Joel Caetano
Ricardo Silva: Ricardo Araújo
Jorge Silva: Jorgemar de Oliveira
Antonio Carvalho: Fonzo Squizzo
Ivan Carvalho: Petter Baiestorf
Agnaldo Carvalho: Foca Magalhães
Reginaldo Carvalho: Reginaldo Secundo
Raul Carvalho: Raul Lorza
Raul Child: Hector
Old Chico: Cristian Verardi
Mrs. Italia Carvalho: Margaret Galvão
Matilde Carvalho: Milena Zacchè
Mr. Tadeu Carvalho: Secundo Rezende
Mr. Otto: Afonso Abreu
Alvaro: Eduardo Moraes
Drunk: Hermann Pidner
Movie Extras: Giovanni Coio, Ulisses Debian.

Below is a gallery of images from The Night of the Chupacabras, showing the location, the cast and some nudity and gore, but not the monster. Producer Mayra Alarcón told the Backbrain that "the appearance of the Chupacabras is being kept a secret until the debut of the film. It will be our surprise for the public." Director Aragão, who wrote the film, also designed the creature.

Note that, according to Alarcón, "the image that looks like a zombie is our Man with a Sack [that is, O Homem do Saco -- a version of the Bogeyman], a Latin myth about an old man who kidnaps children".

Gallery: