‘Primate’: A Familiar Teen Horror Tale with a Killer Chimp Twist
The 2026 film 'Primate' from Paramount and Skydance marks a less-than-encouraging start to the year, especially for fans of the studio's legacy. Directed by Johannes Roberts, the movie begins with the iconic Paramount mountain logo, signaling a potential return to form. However, the film itself is a horror-comedy mashup that feels more like an indie-level attempt to exploit a familiar idea.
The central villain, Ben, a teddy bear-hugging chimpanzee, is not a classic horror icon like Freddy or Jason, but the screenplay from Roberts and Ernest Riera treats him as if he were. The plot revolves around Ben's terrifying transformation into a monster with a taste for human flesh, a twist that feels more like a typical slasher flick than a fresh take on the genre.
The story follows Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah), a college student returning home to Hawaii (filmed in the UK) with her friends Hannah (Jessica Alexander) and Erin (Gia Hunter). Lucy reunites with her father, Adam (Troy Kotsur), who is grieving the loss of their mother, a sign language expert who connected humans and chimpanzees. Ben, the family pet, becomes the central antagonist, turning from a lovable companion into a monster with a taste for human flesh.
The film's 89-minute runtime doesn't allow for much exposition, and the opening sequence, which shows a veterinarian treating Ben before his face is viciously torn off, sets a grim tone. The plot then jumps to an airplane, where Lucy and her friends are traveling, and Ben's transformation begins to unfold.
The film's humor comes from the antics of the clueless and drunk teens, as well as the victims' misadventures, such as one of them locking herself in the wrong car. The cast, including Kotsur, is attractive and knows how to scream on cue, but the script's attempts to work in the actor's deafness feel forced.
Roberts, who has only one successful horror film to his name (47 Meters Down), seems to be stuck in a rut. His inspiration for 'Primate' was the film version of Stephen King's 'Cujo,' but with a chimp as the killer instead of a St. Bernard. The filmmakers' decision to shoot much of the film in-camera rather than using CGI is commendable, and Miguel Torres Umba's realistic performance in the monkey suit is impressive.
The film's title, 'Primate,' is a clever play on words, but the director misses the opportunity to include Michael Jackson's poignant Oscar-nominated song 'Ben' on the soundtrack, which would have added an ironic twist to the chimp's character.
Producers Walter Hamada, John Hodges, and Bradley Pilz bring together a talented team, but the film's overall execution feels like a missed opportunity. The film is rated R and runs for 1 hour and 29 minutes.
