Primate Horror Movie Stuns Early Audiences With Chilling Chimp Villain
The new horror film Primate is making waves with its terrifying chimp antagonist and intense scares, drawing early comparisons to Stephen King's Cujo. Find out why critics are raving about this January release.
January is shaping up to be a standout month for fans of the genre, as a fresh animal attack thriller is set to hit theaters and is already generating serious buzz. Primate, a new horror flick centered around a menacing chimpanzee, has quickly captured the attention of early viewers and critics alike. With an impressive 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this original film is making a name for itself even before its wide release.
Following early screenings, reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the film’s relentless suspense and the unforgettable presence of its villain, Ben the Chimp.
“Primate is a lean, mean, rabid-chimp chiller that delivers nonstop tension and gloriously gruesome kills!!”
raved critic Andre Saint-Albin. Jordan Bolding from That Hashtag Show added,
“If you imagined how an animal attack movie could go, it goes there and then some. Plenty of violence, and Ben is one mean sonofabitch.”
Ben the Chimp: A New Horror Icon
Many are already comparing Ben to some of the most notorious creatures in horror history. The killer dog from Stephen King’s Cujo and the sinister ape from Jordan Peele ’s Nope have both been mentioned as points of reference.
“Cujo has nothing on Ben the Chimp!”
declared Junior Felix of That Hashtag Show. Variety’s Courtney Howard noted,
“Johannes Roberts’ Primate is CUJO with a chimp - even lifts from its inspiration, copying the pan (but from in a pool).”
Directed by Johannes Roberts, known for The Strangers: Prey at Night, the story follows a college student who invites friends to her family ’s tropical island home. There, her pet chimp Ben awaits. But when Ben becomes rabid, what was supposed to be a relaxing getaway quickly spirals into a desperate fight for survival against a highly intelligent and deadly adversary.
Director ’s Track Record and Audience Response
This isn’t Roberts’ first foray into animal-driven horror. He previously directed the shark thrillers 47 Meters Down and its sequel, which received mixed reviews. However, Primate is already being embraced by horror enthusiasts, who are praising it for its intensity and originality. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score far surpasses those of Roberts’ earlier aquatic horrors, which landed at 53% and 44% respectively.
Primate is set to open in theaters across the United States on January 9, with a UK release following on January 30. As anticipation builds, horror fans are eager to see if Ben the Chimp will join the ranks of the genre’s most memorable monsters. For those looking to expand their watchlist, this film is quickly becoming a must-see among upcoming releases.