A group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival.
As someone who’s been obsessed with horror since my teenage years, it’s rare for violence or gore alone to unsettle me. Yet, from time to time, a movie manages to genuinely disturb—not by going overboard, but by striking the right balance between physical horror and an almost tangible sense of dread. That’s where so many modern horror films fall short. With “Primate,” director Johannes Roberts, together with co-writer Ernest Riera, has put together a movie that feels remarkably straightforward on the surface but leaves a haunting impression long after the credits roll. The film’s straightforwardness is notable: everything takes place within one location—a house by the sea and its attached pool. This stripped-back setup is clearly influenced by budget constraints, but Roberts pulls off a film that looks and feels much more expensive than its $21–24 million price tag suggests. Roberts has already shown he can mix suspense, believable personalities, and convincing plots in “47 Meters Down,” its follow-up, and “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,” which stands out in its series.
Set in an isolated area of Hawaii, “Primate” follows Adam (Troy Kotsur), a celebrated author who is deaf and uses sign language to communicate. He lives with his young daughter, Erin (Gia Hunter). His older daughter, Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah), who’s been gone for years, returns with friends Kate (Victoria Wyant) and Hannah (Jess Alexander). Nick (Benjamin Cheng), Kate’s brother, picks them up from the airport and drives them back. Hannah soon meets Ben, the family’s exceptionally clever chimpanzee, who can interact with the group using a custom soundboard app—an invention left behind by Lucy’s late mother. When Adam announces an upcoming business trip, leaving the young people alone, they decide to celebrate. Their plans unravel quickly when Ben attacks. The group learns Ben was bitten by a rabid mongoose, sparking chaos. The girls barricade themselves in the pool, realizing Ben’s rabies-driven aversion to water gives them a short-lived advantage. As the evening drags on, Ben’s intelligence becomes an even greater danger than they’d expected, forcing them to use every ounce of creativity and resourcefulness to survive.
What makes “Primate” so effective is its relentless tension and the sense of being trapped. Although a pool hardly seems like a prison, the knowledge that Ben—both strong and calculating—is lurking just out of reach makes the situation terrifying. The film stands out even more for its willingness to put every major character in jeopardy; no one is guaranteed safety, and that uncertainty only heightens the suspense. The movie doesn’t pull punches when it comes to sudden, brutal scenes that can shock even longtime horror fans. Without spoiling details, it’s safe to say that a few moments will stick with even the most jaded viewers. Notably, every appearance of Ben on screen is created with practical effects—a performer in a suit—rather than digital animation, lending the film a sense of realism and impact.
Another refreshing aspect: the characters in “Primate” rarely fall into the usual horror-movie trap of making absurdly bad decisions. Instead, they’re portrayed as genuinely trying to outsmart Ben, both physically and intellectually, which makes them easy to empathize with. The film’s brisk 92-minute length keeps things tight and focused, and the ending delivers a sense of closure without teasing future installments.
For anyone looking for a horror film that’s both suspenseful and skillfully made, “Primate” is highly recommended.
Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD April 21st
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