Arriving on Blu-ray this week is Primate, Johannes Roberts’s chilling chimpanzee horror film. Over the years, audiences have seen countless films in which beloved pets or wild animals turn violently against humans—often dogs, as in Cujo or Man’s Best Friend. There have also been murderous primates in Link and Monkey Shines. Primate adds to that tradition with Ben, a chimpanzee who may be one of the most terrifying yet, thanks in large part to the lifelike costume by Millennium FX and the committed performance of Miguel Torres Umba.
When Lucy Pinborough (Johnny Sequoyah) returns home from college with friends for vacation, she reconnects with her younger sister Erin (Gia Hunter) and her father Adam (Troy Kotsur), a renowned deaf author. The family also shares their home with Ben, an unusually intelligent chimp who communicates through a custom soundboard tablet.
It isn’t long before Ben is bitten by a mongoose and begins behaving erratically. In fact, the film opens with his first brutal kill before flashing back to the events leading up to the carnage. At its core, Primate plays like a classic slasher film, substituting a rampaging chimp for the usual masked killer. One by one, Ben dispatches Lucy’s friends—and a few late arrivals—as the body count rises. Meanwhile, Adam is away on a book-signing tour, leaving the young group to fend for themselves against the escalating terror.
With a brisk runtime of under 90 minutes, Primate wastes little time getting to the action. The pacing is tight, with no unnecessary detours, and the cast delivers exactly what the material requires. The cliffside home setting is visually striking, providing a beautiful backdrop for the blood-soaked chaos. For horror fans looking for a fast-paced and entertaining creature feature, Primate is a fun addition to the genre and well worth adding to your Blu-ray collection.
Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Johannes Roberts and Producer Walter Hamada walk audiences through the film.
- Primal Terror: Directing Primate: Director Roberts discusses origins and inspirations for the film, practical effects, life and work on the set, respecting the Horror genre, and more.
- New Blood: The Faces of Primate: A look at characters and the qualities the cast brought to the film.
- Creating Ben: The importance of using a practical rather than digital antagonist and the process of casting, outfitting, and performing Ben.
- Designing Paradise: Looking at set design and construction for the film, with focus on the primary pool location.
