Primate review: A Primal, Pulse-Pounding Slasher
Rating: 3.5/5 Suyog Zore
If you have a penchant for slasher films, the newly released 'Primate' is a mandatory addition to your watchlist. Directed and co-written by Johannes Roberts, the film wastes no time diving into the action. We follow Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah), Katie (Victoria Wyant), and Hannah (Jess Alexander) as they travel to a remote tropical island in Hawaii for a vacation.
Upon arrival, Lucy introduces her friends to her deaf father, Adam (Troy Kotsur)—a famous novelist who communicates via sign language—her younger sister Erin (Gia Hunter), and Ben, the family’s pet chimpanzee. Initially, Ben wearing a cute shirt has a friendly demeanor. However, the vacation takes a grisly turn when Ben begins acting erratically, and the tropical paradise descends into a nightmare.
'Primate' doesn’t necessarily break new ground or reinvent the genre. Instead, it succeeds by delivering exactly what it promises: an extremely entertaining, 90-minute slasher-horror experience. It checks every box for the genre: A group of young adults trapped in a precarious location. Extreme gore and gruesome deaths. The classic "slasher logic" of characters making frantic and silly mistakes under pressure while trying to escape from the killer (here the killer is a chimp with a rabies)
Also before watching this movie we must remember that a character making a 'silly mistake' is not a synonym for a plot hole. In horror, bad decisions, silly mistakes are often a realistic byproduct of pure terror, and not always a sign of lazy screenwriting. If characters didn't make silly mistakes while being hunted by a mad chimpanzee, there wouldn't be much of a movie. If you can't overlook silly mistakes of humans in the face of a primal threat, this movie may not be for you.
What sets the film apart is the "killer" itself. By swapping a calculated human psychopath for an infected, rabid chimpanzee, Roberts adds a layer of unpredictable tension. Ben has no dark backstory or past trauma; he is simply a dangerous animal driven by instinct and illness. This lack of calculation makes him more terrifying—since the girls can’t predict his behavior, forming an escape plan becomes an almost impossible task.
While the film utilizes common tropes—failing mobile phones and cars that won't start—it remains gripping thanks to Roberts' direction. He masterfully uses the restricted location to amplify suspense, and the narrow escape sequences are expertly choreographed.
The real star of the show, however, is the technical execution. Opting for practical effects and physical performance over VFX to bring "Ben" to life was a masterstroke. The makeup and practical work create a palpable sense of unease every time the chimp is on screen, proving that high-quality practical effects are still the gold standard for horror.
The film's character development is thin, but Roberts understands the limitations of the script. He focuses entirely on the survival tactics used by the girls, and the cast delivers. Johnny Sequoyah gives a standout performance as the protective older sister, grounding the film’s more chaotic moments.
Overall, 'Primate' is a well-crafted slasher that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a lean, mean, and bloody good time.
Cast: Johnny Sequoyah, Jess Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Troy Kotsur
Writers: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera
Director: Johannes Roberts
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