Want a chimpanzee as a pet? Our JP reviews “Primate” about a family’s rescued pet chimpanzee that goes rabid and traps a group of young adults in a secluded Hawaiian home.
Primate
Paramount Pictures
- Directed by Johannes Roberts
- Written by Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera
- Produced by Walter Hamada, John Hodges, Bradley Pilz
- Starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Troy Kotsur
Studio Synopsis:
A group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival. After returning to her Hawaiian home, Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) and her friends discover that the family’s pet chimpanzee, Ben, has been bitten by a rabid animal and is now a vicious monster. Trapped and with no easy way to call for help, they must find a way to outsmart the intelligent and deadly ape to survive the night
J.P.’s Take:
If you’re considering adopting a wild animal, especially a chimpanzee, it might be wise to reconsider. Knowing how intelligent it is and having seven times the strength of an average human being, you’d be certain not to pick a fight with one.
All that being said, in this creature feature about a chimp named Ben, “Primate” is that horror film that dives headfirst into the primal instincts of such an animal. And upon its opening, you’d think this would be just a simple-minded gore fest. Well, you’d be wrong, as the hair on your extremities will surely be raised just enough to let out a good gasp or two.
“Primate” takes place in the stunning tropical backdrop of Hawaii in a secluded and affluent area of the island (a la the sound stages of London studios). This unexpected setting lulls viewers into a false sense of calmness before the story takes a darker turn. Bringing along a few close friends, Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) is heading back to Hawaii for vacation and to visit her father, famous deaf author Adam (Troy Kotsur). After spending a significant amount of time at university, she’s excited to reconnect with her roots. This includes time spent with her pet chimp Ben, whom her parents adopted – or rather rescued – from a life spent being experimented on in a testing facility.
36 hours before these events, however, the story kicks off with its first shocking moment when veterinarian Dr. Lambert (Rob Delaney) arrives at Adam and Lucy’s home to administer Ben’s daily shots. This scene sets the tone for the unfolding drama and grisly horror, highlighting the vulnerability of chimpanzees to hydrophobia and the evolution of rabies.
What makes this introduction particularly captivating is the way it connects the dots between the animal’s health and the broader implications of disease. Not only does this moment play up the impact on Ben’s mental state, but it also emphasizes the terrifying consequences of the situation if it remains unaddressed. Although I find this horror event a bit tame in gore, what it lacks in this department it makes up for in sheer suspense and good old-fashioned terror. And don’t get me wrong, there are some gruesome kills here.
“Primate” boasts some pretty crafty, eerie gotcha sequences, especially when the first signs of Ben’s decline begin to present themselves. Ben (physical portrayal by Miguel Torres Umba) dominates the scene after he goes completely rabid and traps Lucy and her friends in the pool. Those moments when Lucy, Hannah (Jessica Alexander), Kate (Victoria Wayant), Lucy’s sister Erin (Gia Hunter), and Nick (Benjamin Cheng) try multiple times to escape their watery grave, only to be apprehended by the clever and vicious Ben, as he hides away waiting for them to slip up. And when he does, he makes grueling work of them, hammering one of his victims with a stone, snatching the scalp from another while hanging from a string of lights … completely eviscerating them.
Director and co-writer Johannes Roberts — recognized for directing high-tension survival and franchise horror films, including the shark-centered “47 Meters Down” (2017), the slasher sequel “The Strangers: Prey at Night” (2018), and the video game reboot “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” (2021) — deserves credit for his effective shot compositions that capture the right tone during the film’s intense moments, particularly when Ben sneaks up on his victims.
As I’ve mentioned before, gore is actually kept to a minimum, despite the graphic nature of each kill. Even at times when we see bodies being ripped open, they’re pretty much shadowed or hidden from view behind set pieces. Except for the ones played out in plain sight, like when Ben pulls Nick over the poolside edge which hangs over the side of a mountain, or when Hannah makes a run for the car and Ben catches up to her and traps her in the vehicle. What he does to her will have you avert your eyes.
The film wraps up in a brisk 89 minutes, which works perfectly for me. If it had dragged on any longer, there wouldn’t be much left to keep the tension alive. “Primate” does a decent job with its introduction, effectively setting up for a streamlined horror experience, though it leans more towards a basic creature feature. It seems well-suited for viewers who aren’t accustomed to the extreme gore found in films like the “Terrifier” series, as they might appreciate this level of bloodshed. However, seasoned horror fans might find it lacking when compared to other entries in the genre.
In the end, I found “Primate’s” pacing to be quite good, and overall, it was well executed, though there were a few clunky moments. And although it’s not one of my faves just yet, I’ll add it to my “watch on a whim” list, just to see if it’ll grow on me over time.
Official Site: Primate
