Primate – REVIEW

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What is a primate?

We’ve seen many stories about our closest relatives, the primates. These animals – from baboons and monkeys to, surprisingly, even celebrities – communicate with sounds, use tools like sticks to get food, and live in various environments. The new horror film ‘Primate’ focuses on Ben, a chimpanzee living in a remote Hawaiian home. Ben’s owner, a linguist, recently passed away, leaving him with her deaf husband and young son. Their older daughter, Lucy, is still grieving and lives on the mainland. She returns home with friends for a weekend while her dad is away on a book tour. It’s a setup that feels like trouble is brewing.

Primate on the prowl!

The film opens by establishing tension between Ben and others, and a title card reveals that rabies causes extreme anxiety, aggression, and confusion, suggesting Prince Harry needs to be tested. Since rabies can also cause a fear of water, Johnny, his friends, and younger brother seek safety in a swimming pool. The story then follows the group as they try to protect themselves while Ben remains by the pool, waiting for someone to emerge so he can attack.

When chimps go ape!

Modern horror movies seldom receive an 18 certificate, but this film immediately establishes itself as a graphic and gory experience. From the very beginning, with a particularly gruesome injury, it earns that rating. Director Johannes Roberts, known for various horror projects, delivers one of his strongest films yet, featuring incredibly realistic and bloody attacks from a CGI chimpanzee brought to life by movement specialist Miguel Torres Umba. It’s a shame the shadowy lighting often obscures a clear view of the character Ben. Roberts previously directed the well-regarded shark thrillers ‘47 Metres Down’ and its sequel, both known for their exciting action sequences, and a key supporting character, Ben’s deaf father, seems primed for a similar moment. While the film follows a predictable pattern of characters meeting their demise, the tension isn’t quite as strong as it could be. Overall, it’s a decent genre offering, delivering 90 minutes of enjoyable mayhem.

We chatted to director Johannes Roberts about his career in horror films …..

Here’s the Primate trailer….

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2026-01-30 03:23