Primate Review: A Ridiculous Throwback Done Right
Primate is a full-on throwback to an era when creature features were loud, messy, and unapologetically dumb. From its violent cold open to its rabid chimpanzee antagonist, the film knows exactly what kind of horror movie it wants to be, and it commits.
The story centers on Lucy, who returns home after her mother’s death and reconnects with her primatologist father and his highly intelligent chimp, Ben. When Ben contracts rabies, the movie quickly abandons logic in favor of tension, turning into a siege-style horror where characters scramble to survive long enough to call 911.
This video breaks down why Primate works best when it treats Ben like a slasher villain, stalking the grounds with eerie POV shots and brutal efficiency. We look at how Johan Roberts borrows from John Carpenter’s visual language, why the synth score elevates the suspense, and how the film stretches the concept of infectious disease to its breaking point.
While the movie stumbles when it tries to suggest human-like revenge and intelligence, Primate ultimately succeeds as a lean, mean creature feature. For viewers willing to suspend disbelief and embrace chaos, this is exactly the kind of January horror that delivers blood, tension, and a killer premise without pretending to be anything more.
0:00 Primate as January Studio Horror
0:34 Setup, Characters, and the Chimp
1:42 When the Creature Feature Turns Slasher
2:34 Carpenter Influences and Kill Design
3:10 Why Primate Still Works
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Video by: Gregory Nussen & Kem Ramirez
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