Carl Roberts 
“Johannes Roberts’ Primate is a completely nuts, gory, scary horror that can only be described as Chimpan-Crazy! But has fun along the way.”
We here at The Future Of The Force love us a good old-fashioned creature feature. Whether it’s a Universal horror movie, a shark film (one of the many out there), a Killer Whale, or a monkey movie, we will watch it. Now, we have a new one to watch. “Primate” is a gripping natural horror film. It follows a chimpanzee on a violent rampage after it gets bitten by a rabid animal. Directed by Johannes Roberts, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ernest Riera, the film delivers a chilling narrative. It keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
Starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Troy Kotsur, the film has already opened in the United States. Moreover, it is being released in the UK on January 30th. It has received critical acclaim from critics and audiences alike. But the question is: Are they right, or is the film a load of old monkey business?
PREMISE
Lucy, a college student, along with her friends, spend their vacation at her family’s home in Hawaii, which includes her pet chimpanzee, Ben. When Ben gets bitten by a rabid animal and contracts rabies, the group must fiercely battle for their lives to escape the now-violent chimp.
THOUGHTS
Ok, I’m going to try and keep the puns to a minimum. But it won’t be easy! The film is a completely bats**t nuts romp that deserves to be seen. Although running for just under ninety minutes, the film packs enough blood, gore, shocks, and fun to entertain the whole audience. While the premise isn’t really anything new (Monkey Shines, Link, etc.), the film delivers a fun experience that is the perfect horror movie for a Friday night’s viewing. It does enough to guarantee that the audience will leave with wide grins on their faces and a need for a change of underwear. It is, at times, jaw-dropping (you’ll get the reference once you see the film!). There’s no monkeying around here.
There are, of course, some niggles along the way. The film was shot in the UK but is set in Hawaii. While some scenes make us believe we are in Hawaii, the CGI effects superimposed into the film are shoddy. In addition, some of the other CGI effects in the film let it down. Add in some unbelievable acting from certain cast members, and some annoying elements that have us scowling in frustration, and the film loses some of its charm. However, Troy Kotsur’s performance, although only an extended cameo, is superb. As is the scene where his character, Adam, returns home to discover the carnage. Kotsur is deaf, and in this scene, the film plays a blinder. Having him tour the house while Ben stalks him in complete silence, bringing us into Adam’s world, is terrific.
BEN
The character of Ben, the chimpanzee, is played by Miguel Torres Umba. Umba’s motion capture performance is terrific. However, at times, the CGI rendering lets him and the character down. That said, the way he portrays the rabid creature has us feeling sorry for him at times. And then he attacks and starts thinning out the cast. The ways Ben dispatches his victims in the film are bloody, gory, violent, and horrifying. The crunches as he breaks bones and skulls make us shudder. Two of the deaths are enough to have the audience reaching for the sick bucket. Believe me, if you’re squeamish, look or stay away from the film. Although the gore and violence aren’t in the same league as some horror movies I could mention, they are stomach-churning at times.
That being said, the film makes brilliant use of the locations, bringing us into claustrophobic territory. We are never sure where Ben is at times, and the film uses the closeness of the house and its swimming pool to tremendous effect. While several of the usual horror movie tropes are used during proceedings, they work wonders. As does the lighting. The most violent death happens in a bedroom that is bathed in red light. Surely, that would have been a warning for the character who enters into it, a real red flag. But the film’s use of it, as well as having Ben stalk, bathed in the red light, has us clutching the seat arm.
VERDICT
Johannes Roberts’ Primate is a completely nuts, gory, scary horror that can only be described as Chimpan-Crazy! But has fun along the way. In under ninety minutes, it delivers more than enough to send the audience home happy. It doesn’t outstay its welcome, and makes for a tense and scary movie that deserves to be seen time and again. Although several aspects drag it down, making it not as good as it could have been, it’s still something that we can’t seem to get enough of. It draws us in, has us fall in love with Ben, then scares the pants off us as he turns violently murderous. It isn’t good, clean fun, but it is highly entertaining from the start.
Johannes Roberts, through his directing and co-writing the script, has delivered a neat horror experience that pays off in dividends throughout. It plays on our fears, has us squirming in our seats, and delivers a rollercoaster ride we don’t want to get off of. With spirited acting from Johnny Sequoyah and Troy Kotsur, some nasty deaths, some chilling moments, and a claustrophobic tone, Primate delivers a real and welcome horror experience for the entire audience. Sit back, clutch the seat arms, and get ready to have a fun, horrific experience. You’ll go APE for it!
Primate opens in UK cinemas on January 30th, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
