 |
| Ben, the pet chimp at the centre of the horror thriller Primate. |
By Jon Scarr
There’s no getting around it. A movie about a killer chimpanzee stalking a group of teenagers already sounds like it’s daring you not to take it seriously. Primate knows how that pitch sounds and doesn’t rush to sell itself as anything deeper or smarter than it is. Instead, it takes its time setting the table before showing exactly what kind of movie it wants to be.
Directed by Johannes Roberts, Primate treats its premise plainly rather than playing it for constant jokes. This isn’t a movie chasing trends or trying to dress itself up as something it’s not. It’s a contained horror thriller built around people being stuck in the wrong place with a very dangerous animal, and it commits to that idea without winking at the audience. That straightforward approach ends up working in its favour.
Seeing it with an audience helped put that approach into perspective. Early reactions were a mix of nervous laughs and curiosity, followed by a noticeable shift once the movie made it clear it wasn’t going to hold back. The crowd settled in quickly, which is usually a good sign for this kind of January horror release. It’s meant to be experienced, not overthought.
For horror fans and casual moviegoers scrolling through new releases, Primate knows where it fits. It doesn’t pretend to reinvent the genre, but it also doesn’t feel lazy or half-finished. It’s built around a single, ridiculous idea, delivered with enough care to make it work longer than you might expect.
Primate Movie Details
Release Date: January 9, 2026
Runtime: 89 minutes
Rating: R
Director: Johannes Roberts
Writers: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera
Starring: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Troy Kotsur, Gia Hunter, Victoria Wyant, Benjamin Cheng
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Note: This review is spoiler-free.
A Family Reunion That Goes Wrong
Primate begins by grounding its story in a small, contained family setting before letting the horror take over. Lucy returns home to Hawaii after time away at college, rejoining her younger sister Erin and their father Adam. The house itself feels intentionally isolated, perched away from help and surrounded by space that quickly becomes threatening rather than comforting.
Adam, a successful author who is deaf, has raised his daughters in a home that also includes Ben, a chimpanzee who has been part of the family for years. Ben is not treated as a novelty or a secret experiment. He is framed as a familiar presence, one that fits naturally into the household’s routine. The film takes a moment to establish that bond, giving the early scenes a surprisingly calm and domestic tone.
That sense of normalcy doesn’t last long. Once something begins to feel off about Ben’s behaviour, Primate starts shifting gears.What initially feels like a family drama slowly tightens into a survival scenario, with Lucy, Erin, and a small group of friends forced to react as the situation spirals out of control.
The setup is straightforward and doesn’t overcomplicate itself. The movie isn’t interested in lengthy explanations or moral lectures about how things reached this point. Instead, it uses the family dynamic to establish emotional stakes before moving firmly into slasher territory. By the time the danger fully reveals itself, the film has already made it clear who these characters are and why being trapped with Ben is such a terrifying prospect.
A Direct, Fast-Moving Approach
Johannes Roberts directs Primate with a clear understanding of what kind of movie he is making and how quickly it needs to get there. Once the setup is in place, the movie starts moving and doesn’t waste much time. Scenes are built around where people are, how close they are to danger, and how quickly they have to react, rather than stopping to explain every detail.
The writing follows that same philosophy. The script keeps things simple, using just enough setup to establish relationships before shifting its attention to survival and escalation. There is no interest in overexplaining the situation or layering in unnecessary twists. For a movie built around a single threat in a contained space, that restraint works in its favour.
Pacing is where Primate feels most deliberate. The film doesn’t rush through every moment, but it also rarely pauses long enough to lose energy. Once it commits to its horror mechanics, it stays there, letting sequences play out fully rather than cutting away early. That consistency helps the movie maintain its rhythm as the night unfolds.
That approach does come with limits. Some character moments and side threads are streamlined or dropped entirely once the danger becomes clear. If you’re hoping for big emotional swings or unexpected turns, this movie probably won’t surprise you. Still, it knows what it wants to be and stays focused on delivering that kind of experience.
A Cast That Plays It Straight
The cast in Primate seems very aware of the kind of movie this is and plays it straight without trying to oversell anything. The younger cast handles the physical side of the film well, reacting in ways that feel believable once things start going wrong. These aren’t roles built around long emotional speeches, but the performances sell the urgency and confusion that drive the movie forward.
Troy Kotsur plays Adam, the girls’ father, and brings a steady presence to the early part of the film. His scenes help establish the family dynamic before the horror fully kicks in, and he feels grounded and natural in the role. The movie also makes good use of his deafness in how certain moments are framed, letting silence and limited perspective do some of the work rather than spelling everything out.
Johnny Sequoyah carries much of the movie as Lucy, and she does a solid job anchoring the story as things escalate. Her reactions feel immediate and practical, which helps keep the film from tipping into cartoon territory. Gia Hunter works well alongside her as Erin, especially in the quieter moments early on that help set the stakes.
The rest of the cast fills out familiar slasher roles, but they fit comfortably into the movie’s rhythm. No one feels wildly out of place or distracting, which matters for a film that relies so heavily on momentum. The script doesn’t give everyone a lot of room, but the performances work within those limits and keep the focus where it needs to be.
Physical Horror That Carries the Movie
What really makes Primate work on a technical level is how real it feels. Ben isn’t something added later on a computer. He’s actually there, in the space with the actors, and you can tell. That physical presence makes every close call and chase more uncomfortable in a good way, because it never feels fake or weightless.
When the movie gets violent, it doesn’t dance around it. The gore is graphic and clearly meant for an adult audience. There’s no effort to soften the damage or cut away at the last second. When something bad happens, you see the result, and it sticks with you. It fits the movie’s straightforward attitude and helps sell the danger without turning it into a joke.
Sound plays a big part in keeping things uneasy. Ben’s movements are loud and unpredictable, and the movie uses that to keep you on edge. You’re often listening for where he might show up next. There are also moments where sound drops back or disappears, which makes certain scenes feel more uncomfortable without needing anything flashy.
The music keeps things moving without getting in the way. The synth-heavy score feels pulled straight out of an older slasher movie, and it works here. It pushes scenes forward and signals trouble without overwhelming what’s happening on screen. Paired with clean editing and clear staging, the technical side of Primate stays focused on one thing: keeping the pressure on until the movie ends.
Final Thoughts on Primate
By the time Primate is over, it’s pretty clear what kind of movie it wants to be. This isn’t a horror film trying to surprise you or flip the genre on its head. It’s a contained, straightforward slasher built around one wild idea, and it sticks with that idea from start to finish.
That approach comes with trade-offs. Once the danger kicks in, the characters don’t get a lot of room to grow, and the story follows a familiar path. If you’re looking for big twists or deeper themes, this probably isn’t the movie for that. But if you’re in the mood for something direct that gets moving and doesn’t waste time, Primate delivers on its promise.
Personally, I enjoyed how focused it stayed. It knows when to move, when to get brutal, and when not to overcomplicate things. For a January horror release, that clarity goes a long way. It’s easy to settle into once you accept the premise and let the movie do what it’s there to do.
Primate isn’t going to work for everyone, but it feels like a solid option if you want a straightforward horror movie that commits to its idea. It doesn’t aim high, but it hits its target.
Primate Review Summary
Liked
+ The physical, animatronic chimp work gives the movie real weight and presence
+ Brutal, graphic gore that doesn’t pull its punches
+ Focused direction that keeps things moving once the horror kicks in
+ Strong use of sound and silence to keep you on edge
Didn’t Like
– Characters take a back seat once the danger fully sets in
– Familiar slasher structure offers few surprises
– Some story threads are dropped as the movie narrows its focus
Overall Rating of Primate
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated. Please stay respectful and on topic.