Primate

by Mike McGranaghan

The opening scene of Primate caps off with a bit of violence so gory, it could send unprepared viewers running for the exits. In fact, the whole movie has the potential to traumatize folks who only casually watch horror. This is one of the goriest major studio releases in a long time. The plot revolves around a pet chimpanzee who goes berserk and starts killing people. I don’t know about you, but I want a movie about a murdering monkey to be excessively violent. What’s the point of watering that down to a PG-13 level? Go big or go home. Primate goes big.

Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) returns to her family’s remote Hawaiian home for the first time in a long time. Best friend Kate (Victoria Wyant) accompanies her, as does her rival Hannah (Jessica Alexander). She’s glad to see little sister Erin (Gia Hunter) and deaf father Adam (Troy Kotsur). She’s similarly glad to see Ben (Miguel Torres Umbra), the chimp her late linguist mother taught to communicate with humans. Adam heads out on a work-related trip, which is precisely when something happens that makes Ben turn violent. Much bloodshed follows, as the young women attempt to survive.

That’s it. That’s the movie right there. Primate makes no pretense of being anything other than a lean-and-mean ‘80s-style shocker. It could easily have played in a Times Square grindhouse or had a VHS cover that loomed ominously from a shelf at your local video store. There’s no substance, no effort to find greater meaning in the premise. The only goal is to twist your stomach into a knot for 89 minutes.

Director Johannes Roberts knows what he’s doing. In his previous films, 47 Meters Down and The Strangers: Prey at Night, he demonstrated a strong ability to bring visual style to unapologetic genre fare. Working for Paramount Pictures, he’s got a bigger budget this time, allowing for an expansive set where the bloody mayhem can play out, plus the ability to create a chimpanzee that is almost thoroughly convincing.

Roberts makes the most of it. Tension begins right away and doesn’t let up. The opening sets the stage for what’s to come, immediately putting the audience on edge. With Ben established as a formidable foe, your pulse races whenever it’s obvious he’s moving in for a kill. The viciousness of those kills then delivers a massive jolt. A couple of good jump scares are present, too, because the chimp has a knack for sneaking up on people. Suspense continually builds, with a highlight being a white-knuckle scene where silence is utilized to imply grave danger.

The actresses give credibly fearful performances, and I love what Kotsur (an Oscar-winner for CODA) gets to do at the end. Primate is a thrill-a-minute ride of terror that capitalizes on stories where wild animals have brutally attacked the humans who foolishly attempted to domesticate them. I felt every muscle in my body loosen when the end credits began rolling.

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