Primate
Lucy, a college student, along with her friends, spend their vacation at her family's home in Hawaii, which includes her pet chimpanzee, Ben. However, when Ben contracts rabies after being bitten by a rabid animal, the group must fight for their lives in order to avoid the now-violent chimp.
Trailer
Review
Johannes Roberts’s 'Primate' takes the classic 'animal attack' horror premise and injects it with a potent dose of claustrophobic dread and biological terror. The film opens with a deceptively serene Hawaiian vacation, as college student Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) and her friends arrive at her family’s lush, isolated home. The initial camaraderie and scenic beauty quickly curdle when Lucy’s beloved pet chimpanzee, Ben, is bitten by a rabid animal. What follows is a relentless, 89-minute siege as the group must survive not just a wild animal, but a familiar companion turned into a hyper-intelligent, unpredictable engine of violence. Roberts masterfully builds tension from the moment Ben’s behavior shifts, using the intimate setting of the house—a supposed sanctuary—as a labyrinthine death trap. The horror stems less from gore (though it has its moments) and more from the tragic premise and the chilling intelligence a primate brings to its attacks. The cast, led by a convincingly distraught Johnny Sequoyah and a pragmatic Jessica Alexander, sells the panic and desperation. Troy Kotsur, in a supporting role, adds gravitas. The sound design is particularly effective, with Ben’s guttural vocalizations and the creaks of the house creating an unnerving atmosphere. While the third act leans into familiar genre beats, the journey there is taut and genuinely stressful.
Pros
- ✓Masterful tension-building and claustrophobic setting: Roberts expertly uses the isolated house, turning familiar spaces into terrifying arenas.
- ✓Strong central premise with emotional weight: The tragedy of a beloved pet turning violent adds a layer of psychological horror beyond simple monster chases.
- ✓Effective sound design and creature work: Ben’s vocalizations and physical presence are chillingly realized, avoiding cheap CGI pitfalls.
- ✓Commited performances: The cast, especially Sequoyah, grounds the fantastical premise in believable human fear and grief.
Cons
- ✗Formulaic third act: The finale resorts to predictable survival-horror tropes that dilute some of the film's earlier originality.
- ✗Underdeveloped supporting characters: Some friends feel like archetypal cannon fodder, their backstories hinted at but not fully explored to maximize emotional impact.
'Primate' is a highly effective and surprisingly tense thriller that elevates its B-movie premise through sharp direction and a compelling emotional core. Johannes Roberts understands that the scariest monsters are those we once loved, and the film mines this concept for all its worth, delivering sustained sequences of nail-biting suspense. While it doesn't completely reinvent the genre wheel and stumbles into some conventional territory in its final moments, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The combination of a tragic setup, a terrifyingly intelligent antagonist, and a claustrophobic setting makes for a gripping watch. For horror fans seeking a well-crafted, creature-feature with genuine stakes and a side of pathos, 'Primate' delivers solid, heart-pounding entertainment. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most familiar comforts can become the most dangerous traps.
🎯 Who Should Watch
Fans of creature features and survival horror, viewers who enjoy tense, single-location thrillers, and audiences who appreciate horror with a tragic, emotional undercurrent.
⭐ Standout Elements
The film's standout element is its devastating central concept—the betrayal by a beloved family pet. This, combined with the chimpanzee's terrifying human-like intelligence in stalking and attacking, creates a uniquely psychological layer to the physical horror. The sound design and practical effects for Ben are also exceptional, making him a credible and deeply unsettling threat.
🎬 Overall Impact
A must-watch film that delivers on both entertainment and emotional depth.
📽️ This film represents strong filmmaking that deserves your attention.
