A Wild, Chaos Fest That Doesn’t Pretend to Be Smart

Johannes Roberts’ Primate is exactly what it promises to be-a chaotic, bloody, and utterly ridiculous survival horror film that leans hard into its absurd premise and plays it for every ounce of campy, carnage-filled entertainment value. 

If you can suspend your disbelief long enough to accept that a father (played by the ever-talented Troy Kotsur) would leave his teenage daughters alone with a pet chimpanzee in Hawaii, you’re already halfway to enjoying this gonzo ride. 

What follows is a fever dream of FOMO-inducing pool parties, rabid primate mayhem, and teens screaming bloody murder as they try to outwit a creature that’s part Bubbles, part Michael Myers, and all nightmare fuel.

The setup is simple: Lucy (a charismatic lead whose name feels almost too on-the-nose) returns home to Hawaii for summer break, reuniting with her father Adam (Kotsur), her sister Erin, and their pet chimpanzee Ben. 

Ben’s initial appearances are deceptively charming-the kind of gentle, cheeky chimp that feels like a Disney sidekick in training. But when Ben is bitten by a rabid animal, the film pivots sharply from Free Willy to The Shallows, with the group barricading themselves in the pool as Ben transforms into a relentless predator. 

The pool-a symbol of carefree summer indulgence-becomes their prison, and director Roberts mines every drop of tension from this claustrophobic setup.

The teens-Lucy, her friends Kate (Jessica Alexander, bringing a surprising depth to the role), Hannah, and Kate’s older brother Nick-are your standard horror archetypes: the resourceful final girl, the brawny jock, the smart one, and the panicker. 

But Roberts knows his audience isn’t here for character development; they’re here for the kills, and Primate delivers them in spades. 

Ben’s rampage is equal parts terrifying and absurd, a frenetic blur of fur and teeth that feels like Planet of the Apes meets Cujo. The film doesn’t shy away from the gore, and there’s a perverse glee in watching the teens scramble to outsmart a creature that seems to know their every move. The pool becomes a macabre battleground, with the water turning from a symbol of freedom to a murky, blood-streaked cradle of dread.

Roberts, known for his work on The Strangers: Prey at Night and the 47 Meters Down series, brings his signature style to Primate: fast-paced editing, atmospheric tension, and a soundtrack that oscillates between eerie silence and pulse-pounding beats. The cinematography captures the lush beauty of Hawaii, making the descent into chaos feel all the more jarring. The juxtaposition of paradise and pandemonium is a recurring visual motif, heightening the film’s sense of unease.

But where Primate truly shines is in its willingness to embrace its own ridiculousness. 

This is not a film that takes itself seriously, and neither should you. The rabies angle stretches plausibility to its breaking point-especially in Hawaii, where rabies is virtually non-existent, but it’s the kind of narrative leap that horror fans will either roll their eyes at or gleefully accept. 

The script leans into the absurdity, with dialogue that oscillates between genuinely tense and hilariously over-the-top. (“Ben’s not Ben anymore!” one character shrieks, as if we needed reminding that the cute chimp is now a murder-machine.)

The film’s commentary on exotic pets is its most grounded element, a cautionary tale woven into the chaos. Ben’s transformation from beloved pet to terrorizing predator serves as a stark reminder (albeit exaggerated) of the dangers of keeping wild animals as domestic companions. 

It’s a thread that adds depth to the otherwise pure spectacle, grounding the film in a kernel of reality amidst the madness.

Primate is a wild, unapologetic horror-thrill ride that doesn’t pretend to be smarter than it is. It’s a film that knows its audience wants blood, screams, and a few good jump scares-and it delivers on all fronts. The premise is ludicrous, the logic is strained, and the rabies angle is about as scientifically sound as a Sharknado sequel. 

But none of that matters when the film is this much fun. If you’re in the mood for horror with a side of campy chaos, Primate is the perfect guilty pleasure. 

Just don’t bring your pet chimp to the theatre.

Showing in cinemas from January 9, 2026.

-Dirk Lombard Fourie