There is a primal fear associated with the idea of a domestic pet turning on its owners, and director Johannes Roberts taps directly into that vein with his latest offering, Primate. Released in 2025 and produced by the likes of 3 Arts Entertainment and Blind Wink Productions, this film takes the "animal gone wild" trope and strips away the sentimentality. Roberts, who previously showed us the claustrophobic terror of being trapped with sharks in 47 Meters Down, trades the open ocean for the lush, sun-drenched landscapes of Hawaii. However, despite the beautiful setting, the mood is anything but tropical.
The story follows Lucy, played by Johnny Sequoyah, as she returns home for summer break to visit her father Adam, portrayed by the Academy Award-winning Troy Kotsur. Their home life includes a pet chimpanzee named Ben, who has been a gentle part of the family for years. The peaceful dynamic is shattered when Ben is bitten by a rabid mongoose, a small but pivotal event that transforms the ape into a relentless killing machine. When Adam is called away for work, Lucy and her friends decide to throw a pool party, unaware that their pet has become a ferocious predator lurking in the shadows. What follows is a brutal survival story where the group is forced to barricade themselves in and around the pool, desperately trying to outwit a creature that knows their house as well as they do. Released on the festival circuit before hitting wide theaters, Primate matters because it revitalizes the creature feature genre with a terrifyingly grounded threat.
Story and Screenplay: A Lean Descent Into Animalistic Chaos
The narrative quality of Primate is defined by its efficiency. Writers Matthew Robinson and Johannes Roberts have crafted a script that wastes very little time on fluff. The setup is quick, the inciting incident is plausible within its tropical setting, and once the first drop of blood is spilled, the film never lets its foot off the gas. Structurally, it functions as a "bottle movie," where the majority of the tension is derived from the characters being trapped in a limited space. This creates a palpable sense of claustrophobic dread, even though many of the scenes take place outdoors around a luxury pool.
The pacing and rhythm are the film’s greatest narrative assets. It builds tension through silence and the suggestion of Ben’s presence before exploding into bursts of visceral action. Originality might not be the screenplay’s strongest suit, as it wears its influences on its sleeve. There are clear nods to the relentless pursuit found in Cujo and the "unseen predator" mechanics of Jaws. However, the themes of human entitlement and the fragility of our "dominion" over nature provide enough substance to keep the story from feeling like a hollow slasher. The script’s primary weakness lies in its dialogue for the teenage characters, which often feels generic and serves only to bridge the gap between Ben’s attacks. While the "rabid animal" trope is a well-worn path, the decision to use a chimpanzee—a creature with immense strength and human-like intelligence—adds a fresh layer of terror to the survival mechanics.
Acting and Characters: Gravitas vs. Gristle
The performances in Primate are a bit of a mixed bag, which is often par for the course in exploitation-style horror. Troy Kotsur, as the father Adam, brings a much needed weight to the early scenes. Even without a large amount of screen time, he establishes a believable bond with Ben that makes the chimpanzee’s eventual turn feel genuinely tragic. Kotsur’s presence gives the film a soul, providing a glimpse of the family life that is being systematically dismantled. Johnny Sequoyah also holds her own as Lucy, portraying a lead who is capable and resourceful without falling into the "final girl" clichés. She manages to convey the heartbreak of seeing a beloved pet become a monster, which adds an emotional layer to her survival instincts.
On the other hand, the supporting cast members, including Jessica Alexander as the "frenemy" Hannah, are largely there to serve as fodder for the rampage. While Alexander is entertaining in her role as the entitled visitor, her character development is non-existent. The chemistry between the teens is serviceable but lacks the depth required to make their individual deaths feel like major emotional losses. The real "performance" of the film, however, comes from Miguel Torres Umba, who provides the movements for Ben. Whether through practical effects, CGI, or a combination of both, Ben is a terrifyingly expressive character. The way his eyes shift from recognition to a feral, rabid vacancy is the most chilling part of the movie. He is not a villain in the traditional sense; he is a biological tragedy, and that makes his violence feel more frightening because it is devoid of malice and driven entirely by an unfiltered primal drive.
Direction and Technical Aspects: The Art of the Mauling
Johannes Roberts has a specific vision for horror that excels when his characters are confined. In Primate, he uses the geography of the house and the pool area to create a deadly game of hide and seek. His style is visceral and unflinching. Unlike some modern horror films that shy away from the gore, Roberts leans into it with a "creative appreciation" for what a chimpanzee’s strength can actually do to the human body. The cinematography by the technical team captures the vibrant colors of Hawaii, making the sudden splashes of deep red blood pop with disturbing clarity. The visual composition often places Ben in the soft focus of the background or in the deep shadows of the house, keeping the audience constantly scanning the frame for a sign of movement.
The editing is sharp, particularly during the attack sequences. It mimics the chaotic and unpredictable nature of a wild animal attack without becoming incomprehensible. The production design of the house is also noteworthy; it feels like a sanctuary that is slowly being turned into a cage. The pool, usually a symbol of relaxation and summer fun, is transformed into a pit of vulnerability where the characters are exposed and trapped. Roberts’ direction ensures that the viewer feels the weight of the chimpanzee’s physical power. When Ben strikes, it doesn't feel like a movie stunt; it feels like a heavy, muscular force of nature colliding with fragile human skin. The technical execution of the jaw-tearing and face-mauling scenes is top-tier, showcasing a blend of practical gore and digital enhancement that will satisfy even the most seasoned horror aficionados.
Trailer Primate (2025)
Music and Atmosphere: The Silence of the Jungle
The music and atmosphere of Primate are designed to keep the viewer in a state of constant unease. The score avoids the typical jump-scare stings, opting instead for a low, rhythmic drone that feels almost like a heartbeat. This is contrasted with the diegetic music of the pool party—upbeat, loud, and oblivious—which is abruptly cut short when the terror begins. This shift in the audio landscape marks the transition from a teen drama to a fight for survival.
Sound design is arguably more important here than the musical score. The film makes great use of Ben’s vocalizations, moving from his familiar, gentle hoots to a high-pitched, terrifying screech that signals an impending attack. The rustle of leaves, the padding of heavy feet on tile, and the sound of heavy breathing in the dark are all used to build a thick layer of dread. Because Lucy’s father is deaf, the film also plays with silence in a way that feels intentional and respectful to Kotsur’s character, using it to heighten the tension for the audience. The overall mood is one of "grisly semi-comedy" mixed with pure exploitation. It’s a film that knows exactly what it is, and the audio experience reinforces that by keeping the focus on the immediate, physical threat.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What works well:
- Unflinching Gore: The film doesn't hold back, featuring creative and visceral kills that showcase the terrifying strength of a chimpanzee, such as the jaw-tearing sequence.
- Effective Pacing: Once the horror begins, the film moves at a breakneck speed, maintaining a high level of tension throughout its runtime.
- Ben the Chimpanzee: The creature design and the "performance" of the antagonist are standout elements, creating a villain that is both tragic and horrifying.
- Troy Kotsur’s Gravitas: Even in a limited role, Kotsur brings a level of emotional depth and legitimacy to the film that elevates it above standard B-movie fare.
- The "Trapped" Mechanics: Using a pool and a barricaded house creates a unique and effective survival scenario that keeps the stakes feeling immediate.
What doesn't work:
- Thin Characterization: Aside from Lucy and Adam, the human characters are largely underdeveloped and serve mostly as "meat" for the kill scenes.
- Generic Dialogue: The script for the teenage characters often relies on clichés and lacks the sharp wit or unique voice found in the film’s more technical elements.
- Predictable Beats: The film follows a very standard slasher/creature feature blueprint, meaning seasoned horror fans will likely predict the order of the deaths.
- Convenient Plot Devices: Certain character choices, such as throwing a party while a parent is away, feel like required tropes rather than organic decisions.
- Underutilized Setting: While Hawaii is beautiful, the film mostly stays confined to one location, missing out on some of the broader atmospheric potential of the islands.
Final Verdict: A Vicious and Satisfying Genre Exercise
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Overall, Primate is a wildly entertaining creature feature that succeeds by keeping its ambitions focused. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel; it simply wants to show you how terrifying a rabid chimpanzee can be, and in that regard, it is a massive success. The film’s "exploitation wink" is evident in its willingness to go for the jugular, delivering some of the most memorable and grisly kills in recent horror history. While it may suffer from the typical "disposable teen" syndrome that plagues many slasher-adjacent films, the technical craft and the intensity of the lead performances more than make up for the lack of character depth.
Who should watch it? This is a must-see for fans of creature features, "animal attack" movies like Cujo or The Shallows, and viewers who appreciate practical gore and high-tension survival stories. If you enjoy horror that is lean, mean, and efficient, you will have a great time with this film.
Who might not enjoy it? Those who are sensitive to animal violence (even if the animal is the aggressor) or those who prefer "elevated horror" with deep metaphors and social commentary might find this a bit too simplistic. If you need your protagonists to be deeply layered and complex before they meet their end, the "meat in bathing suits" approach here might leave you feeling cold.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation: I recommend Primate as a solid Friday night horror pick. It’s a film that understands its own identity and delivers the mayhem with terrifying alacrity. It’s a kick to be reminded of the raw power of our closest animal relatives, even if that reminder comes in the form of a bloody, jaw-ripping nightmare. If you can handle the gore, it is one of the most effective and straightforward horror rides of 2025.
Primate premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 18, 2025, and was theatrically released on January 9, 2026.
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