Johannes Roberts returns to his creature-feature roots with Primate, a gloriously gory and unapologetically ridiculous horror thriller. Channeling the spirit of classics like Deep Blue Sea and Cujo, the film delivers the kind of over-the-top mayhem that defines the best B-movie bloodbaths. It’s the perfect January studio horror — loud, absurd, and dripping with red.
Story
The plot follows Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah), a college student coming home to Hawaii after the death of her mother. Her father, Adam (Troy Kotsur), a dedicated primatologist, is left caring for Lucy’s younger sister, Erin (Gia Hunter), and their unusually intelligent chimpanzee, Ben. Joining Lucy are her friends Katie (Victoria Wyant), Nick (Benjamin Cheng), and Hannah (Jessica Alexander), setting the stage for a weekend getaway that quickly spirals into chaos.
When Adam discovers a mutilated mongoose in Ben’s enclosure, he locks the chimp up, suspecting something is very wrong. But after Adam leaves for a book signing, Ben escapes — and the nightmare begins. What follows is a gruesome survival game as Ben, now rabid and terrifyingly smart, turns the family’s luxurious cliffside home into a blood-soaked battleground.
Performances
While the human cast does what they can with the paper-thin script, it’s Ben — brought to life through Miguel Hernando Torres Umba’s impressive physical performance — who truly steals the show. His portrayal of the hyper-intelligent, increasingly violent primate is disturbingly believable. Troy Kotsur brings emotional depth as the grieving father, while Sequoyah and her on-screen friends embody the classic horror archetypes with enough energy to keep things fun, if not nuanced.
Behind the Scenes
Roberts and co-writer Ernest Riera craft Primate as a deliberate throwback to 90s creature horror. The film’s pacing, drenched in tension and absurdity, mirrors the tone of early John Carpenter thrillers. Adrian Johnston’s synth-heavy score amplifies the suspense, evoking Carpenter’s signature sound while punctuating the carnage with electric energy. Cinematographer work shines during the night sequences, turning tropical paradise into a claustrophobic nightmare.
The production’s practical effects deserve special mention. Each kill is staged with gleeful brutality, balancing shock and camp in equal measure. Roberts keeps the camera work tight and kinetic, ensuring the audience feels every frantic chase and blood-splattered impact.
Final Verdict
Primate is gloriously dumb, deliriously gory, and exactly the kind of horror spectacle you want when the winter movie season feels too quiet. It’s not a film that begs for logic — it thrives on chaos, absurd decisions, and gallons of fake blood. Roberts embraces the silliness with confidence, creating a self-aware monster movie that’s part home invasion slasher, part animal attack thriller.
If you can suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride, Primate offers a wildly entertaining night at the movies. It’s messy. It’s loud. And it’s absolutely bananas.
“Primate” Trailer Unleashes a Terrifying and Emotional Killer Chimp Horror from Paramount
