Johannes Roberts, who recently directed the successful horror film Primate, has shared what kind of movie he wants to make next. Despite having a long history of creating scary films, Roberts admits he’s still easily frightened. He’s looking to tackle a subgenre that genuinely unnerves him – one where sound is a key element, and your screams aren’t a secret.
Director Johannes Roberts recently spoke with MovieWeb about his new horror film, Primate, which centers around a chimpanzee that turns violent after being bitten by a rabid animal. Roberts is a seasoned horror filmmaker, known for movies like 47 Meters Down (and its sequel) and The Strangers: Prey at Night. Primate marks his first feature film since his attempt to reboot the Resident Evil series with Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.
Roberts says that after finishing Primate, he’s eager to challenge himself by directing a horror movie unlike anything he’s done before – specifically, a type of horror that genuinely scares him.
I’d really like to make a horror movie set in space. If I were going to create something truly frightening, I think I’d focus on a really confined setting – something like cave exploration, where characters are crawling through tight spaces.
‘Primate’ Could Be One of the Year’s Horror Highlights: “Delivers Pretty Much Everything a Fan Could Want”
Roberts’ film started gaining attention after its premiere at last year’s Fantastic Fest, praised for effectively blending realistic horror with classic monster-movie thrills. Despite opening in January – a typically slow month for movie theaters – it performed well, earning over $11 million during its opening weekend. Critics have responded positively, giving the film a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating and an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics generally praised Primate as a satisfying horror film. James Berardinelli of Reel Views called it a “solid” film that gives horror fans what they want. Eric Goldman, writing for IGN Films, recommended it as the best “killer chimpanzee movie” of the year, highlighting its entertaining scenes, impressive animatronic chimpanzee, and graphic gore. Owen Gleiberman of Variety acknowledged the film’s sensationalism but praised the effective practical effects used to create the killer chimpanzee, Ben.
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In his review, MovieWeb’s Zachary Lee playfully suggested the film Primate could be titled “Haunted House of the Planet of the Apes.” The movie centers on a crazed chimpanzee terrorizing the family that raised him, and it’s unique to see a slasher film where the animal villain acts like iconic horror figures such as Michael Myers or Jack Torrance—there’s even a direct nod to a famous scene from The Shining. Primate fully embraces its over-the-top, violent nature, delivering exactly what it promises—nothing more, nothing less.
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2026-01-15 16:17