Primate opens with a brutally effective scene that makes its intentions clear. In a remote part of Hawaii, a veterinarian is killed by a pet chimpanzee in a moment of shocking violence. It is a blunt, ugly start, and director Johannes Roberts never really lets the film soften from there.
The story then rewinds to follow Lucy, a college student returning home after years away, bringing friends with her to an isolated cliffside house. The location is instantly striking. Built into rock and surrounded by open space and sheer drops, the house feels impressive but exposed. That sense of vulnerability becomes central once Ben, the family’s unusually intelligent chimpanzee, begins to behave erratically after being bitten by a rabid mongoose.
Ben is the film’s greatest strength. Taught to communicate through a tablet created by Lucy’s late mother, he already feels uncanny before the horror escalates. Once the rabies takes hold, that intelligence turns him into something far more dangerous than a typical animal threat. He is not just violent but calculating, stalking the house and exploiting its layout with alarming ease. Every scene involving Ben crackles with tension, and he dominates the film in a way few creature features manage.
Roberts keeps the storytelling lean and vicious. There is little interest in character development beyond what is strictly necessary. Instead, the film focuses on sustained pressure and escalation. The extended pool sequence is particularly effective, using Ben’s inability to swim to create a cruel stalemate that feels both inventive and nerve shredding. The kills are graphic, efficient, and unapologetic, leaning fully into slasher territory.
The cast largely exists to be placed in danger, but the performances do what is required. Johnny Sequoyah gives Lucy enough presence to anchor the chaos, while Troy Kotsur adds weight as Adam, the deaf father whose delayed understanding of the danger heightens the tension. The film’s final moments, especially the use of Ben’s soundboard in the aftermath, provide a chilling note rather than emotional release.
Primate does rely heavily on familiar horror clichés. Isolated locations, poor decisions, and disposable characters are all present. The film makes no effort to disguise this and seems comfortable with its lack of originality. The narrative is thin, and if the momentum ever slowed, it would quickly unravel.
Thankfully, it never does. At under 90 minutes, Primate moves at a relentless pace that prevents overthinking. It is a straightforward, visceral B movie with a solid budget and a clear focus on delivering tension, gore, and entertainment. There is little depth, but plenty of bite.
Primate is not subtle, clever, or especially original. What it is, however, is sharp, nasty, and highly efficient. For horror fans looking for a fast, brutal thrill, it scratches the itch.
I score Primate a generous 7.5 out of 10.
Out Now - https://apple.co/4pyarJY
