Adrenaline-Pumping Madness: A Primate Movie Review

Primate is out. I have not experienced that much stress and anxiety since I watched Train to Busan. The way this movie had me on the edge of my seat for most of the time was ridiculous. That chimpanzee was absolutely diabolical.

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I don't know these people. I don't know a single actor, but you know, horror movies usually introduce us to new actors. And these folks might have been, in other things. I just don't know them, so they were all new to me. Regardless, I always like to give these actors a shout-out because they worked hard to land that role and bring the characters to life. The main character, Johnny Sequoyah backed up by Jessica Alexander, Miguel Hernando Torres Umba (Ben), Victoria Wyant, Troy Kostur, Gia Hunter, and Benjamin Cheng. 

Primate is a horror movie released in 2025 by Paramount Pictures, from director Johannes Roberts. The movie is about a smart-as-heck pet chimpanzee that gets Rabies and wilds out. That is the basic premise. But oh my, so much more happens. The acting starts out basic but really intensifies in some parts, so for what they had to do, it was pretty good. I have to say the actor who played Ben did his thing for sure. The setting in Hawaii was absolutely beautiful. I felt they did a wonderful job of showcasing the beauty of the island while also having the location of the home be a key part of the story. That home was absolutely gorgeous. Personally, I would not want to live in such an isolated place though. Now, the cinematography was well done, from capturing the landscape to capturing Ben’s antics to, at times, pulling the audience in. That was definitely a nod to the direction provided. The pacing was just right. Once the groundwork was laid and the story took off, it was a wild ride with very brief moments to catch your breath. Were there some plot holes? Of course there were. Were there some blatant plot advancement activities? Duh … all in all, those did not take away too much from the film. The inclusion of the hearing disability was appreciated because it was not made to be a gimmick. He was a regular dad who happened to be deaf, taking care of his children. Actually, he wasn’t a regular dad; he was a very successful author dad who also had to deal with the family dynamics of being a provider and catering to the demands of his career. They did not make a caricature of him being deaf. 

Vibe Check: It is going to stress you out, but in a weird, satisfying way. My overall takeaway is to never give up, even when a rabid chimpanzee is after you. 

Rating: 8/10

Spoilers Ahead

The movie starts out with a scene of a man going into an enclosure to see about a chimp, but he is attacked before he can actually check the chimp. The next scene is with Lucy and her best friend, Kate, on a plane. Lucy is flying back home to see her family for the summer. Kate invites Hannah for the summer as well. They end up flirting with some guys and exchanging numbers. They get picked up at the airport by Kate’s brother, whom Lucy has a crush on. At the house, they all get acclimated, and we get a glimpse of the family dynamics. Lucy is upset that her father has to go away for work. Erin, Lucy’s sister, is upset with Lucy because she hasn’t come home to visit more often. Ben, the pet chim,p is a fun distraction for everyone, although Hannah is freaked out. Before Adam, Lucy’s and Eirn’s father leaves, he notices that Ben has been bitten by a mongoose and touches base with the vet to come check on Ben. He also sends the dead mongoose off for testing. He informs the girls and tell them to make sure Ben remains in his enclosure. The vet comes, and a rabid Ben attacks him, kills him, and goes on a killing rampage.  

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