Primate Movie Review: Absolutely Apeshit!
Image Courtesy of Paramount.
With a new year comes new movies, and this one was honestly wild as hell. Primate, directed by Johannes Roberts, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ernest Riera, is a natural horror film starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Troy Kotsur. As you might expect, the “monster” of the story is a small monkey, but do not let his size fool you. Once a pet belonging to the main character’s family, he becomes a truly brutal, antagonistic force throughout the film. What makes Primate so unsettling is how quickly something familiar and seemingly harmless is turned into a source of relentless terror, laying the groundwork for the chaos that follows.
The movie centers on a group of teens planning a small get-together at the home of our main character, Lucy, following her return after spending years away. Lucy reunites with her friends Kate and Nick and is immediately irritated to learn that Kate has also invited someone named Hannah along for the weekend. It is a small detail, but it subtly establishes the social tension simmering beneath the surface.
The Primate of the title is Ben, a highly intelligent monkey who has been part of Lucy’s family for years. Originally adopted by Lucy’s late mother, a linguistics professor, Ben is introduced as a surprisingly gentle and familiar presence.
Of course, the film wastes no time reminding us that this is a horror story. After a run-in with a mongoose leaves Ben infected with rabies, his behavior begins to shift, transforming a once-beloved pet into something far more unpredictable and dangerous.
Image Courtesy of Paramount.
As a horror film, I did not go in expecting a deep or complex story, and with a runtime of just 90 minutes, there was never much room for one anyway. Thankfully, the film understands this and prioritizes action over heavy exposition, which works entirely in its favor. While I would have liked to learn a bit more about Ben, the movie is confident enough to let him function primarily as a brutal killing machine, and honestly, that ends up being more than enough.
Rather than relying on constant jump scares, the film leans into mounting dread. Ben is always present, always watching, and the tension comes from knowing that the characters cannot stay where they are forever. Every decision feels like a gamble, and the movie wrings as much anxiety as possible out of that inevitability.
Image Courtesy of Paramount.
Continuing to focus on Ben, it is genuinely impressive how real he looks on screen. Whether the effect comes from a blend of CGI and practical puppet work or something else entirely, the execution is excellent. Ben feels convincingly alive in every interaction with the cast, which makes his presence far more unsettling. That level of realism goes a long way in selling the horror, turning what could have felt gimmicky into something genuinely effective.
There is not much more I can say without diving into spoilers, so I’ll leave it at that. If you are looking for a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, this is it. Primate is a thrilling and unforgettable start to 2026, and if this is any indication of what the year has in store for moviegoers, we are in for an exciting ride. Between its relentless suspense, clever tension, and unforgettable titular character, it is the kind of horror movie that sticks with you even after you’ve left the theaters.
Primate is playing now, and with Movietowne’s current Janmania Buy 1 Get 1 Free special, there’s never been a better time to see it.
