'Primate' Movie Review: Johannes Roberts’ pulpy, gory creature feature knows exactly what it wants to be

Language: English
Director: Johannes Roberts
Cast: Johnny Sequoyah, Troy Kotsur, Jess Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter

For quite some time now, audiences have been deprived of the classic creature feature horror that was all the rage in the 80s. Indian viewers, in particular, might be familiar with this space, given how frequently we have been served the likes of Naagin. The Ramsay Brothers popularised the genre too, often portraying animals, including chimpanzees, as disturbingly human-like, with a sleazy mind and a tendency to target women. Creature features once dominated screens across the globe, and the recent release Primate, directed by Johannes Roberts, feels like a deliberate ode to that era.

The film’s setup is deceptively simple. On a homecoming turned tropical vacation, a family’s pet chimp, Ben, contracts rabies after being bitten by another animal and swiftly transforms from a cuddly companion into a violent predator. What begins as a fun gathering quickly spirals into a primal struggle for survival, as Ben hunts his human companions with a terrifying blend of strength, intelligence, and unpredictability. And yes, there is an ample amount of gore along the way.

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What works best in Primate is its commitment to old-school creature horror. There is no pretence of deeper allegory here. The terror is generated through taut pacing, visceral tension, and the constant threat that danger can strike even in supposedly safe spaces. The unpredictability associated with the creature, in this case the chimp, is what elevates such horror films, and Johannes Roberts makes full use of it. The practical creature effects, achieved through a mix of prosthetics and puppetry, make Ben feel tangible and immediate, keeping the audience unsettled rather than distanced by excessive CGI. The film’s 89-minute runtime moves briskly, rarely allowing viewers to settle before the next threat emerges.

The human cast, led by Johnny Sequoyah and Oscar winner Troy Kotsur, provides adequate anchors for the horror, though their characters largely exist to react to the escalating violence. Sequoyah’s Lucy and the rest of the ensemble convey the required urgency, but the real star here is Ben’s formidable presence. Primate uses the chimp not just as a physical threat, but as a symbol of how quickly control collapses when the domestic and the natural collide.

Is the film perfect and without flaws? Not quite. Its biggest shortcoming is undoubtedly its lack of depth. Despite some scope, the narrative does not dwell on character backstories or motivations beyond basic survival instincts. Viewers may find themselves questioning Lucy’s mother’s role, or even why the family’s attachment to Ben runs as deep as it does. The simplicity of the plot means that anyone seeking emotional arcs or thematic complexity may be left wanting. However, this restraint also helps keep the film taut and focused. It is very much part of Primate’s design. The film wants to be a visceral, straightforward horror experience, not a meditation on animal psychology.

For fans of creature features and primal horror, Primate delivers enough to justify its existence. It embraces its pulpier elements, a rabid animal, a stranded group of vacationers, and an ever tightening spiral of violence, and executes them with confidence. It may not be very hi fi, as we often say, but it delivers exactly what it sets out to, and does so with surprising style.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Watch the trailer of Primate here:

The film is currently playing in theatres.