The horror genre excels because it thrives on simplicity. It doesn’t necessitate a grand, sprawling universe or immense budgets. Horror films often feature more concise runtimes, demanding less time and attention from the audience. In many ways, horror cinema stands as the last bastion of old Hollywood, and films like ‘Primate’ help uphold this tradition.
‘Primate’ is neither a complex nor a particularly inventive film, but that’s perfectly fine, because what it offers simply works. The premise is incredibly straightforward: a group of friends’ vacation is ruined when their usually gentle and charming pet chimpanzee turns rabid, leading to a brutal fight for survival against a former ‘family member.’ That’s it. There are no additional details or caveats; it’s a simple battle for survival with slasher-esque elements, where an unsettling killer hunts down defenseless victims, methodically dispatching them in the most horrific and violent ways possible.
Undeniably, Ben the chimpanzee in ‘Primate’ is the killer. However, the film’s first twenty minutes emphasize the animal’s loving nature and its long-standing place within the family—a narrative choice that significantly amplifies the discomfort of its descent into murderous rage. Much like many slasher films, Ben isn’t a vocal killer or a twisted psychopath playing with his victims’ emotions. The chimpanzee is mute; he simply haunts his home, picking off survivors whenever the opportunity arises and brutally murdering them in creative, stomach-churning ways. In many respects, ‘Primate’ aligns with the formula of ‘Halloween’ or ‘Friday the 13th,’ where the killer simply kills, and survivors do everything in their power to make it until sunrise.
Furthermore, ‘Primate’ embraces several horror genre tropes. It begins with a joyful and carefree first act, filled with glamorous poolside scenes and heartwarming family reunions. Quickly, the atmosphere shifts to a nightmare as Ben starts tearing flesh from bones, smashing skulls with rocks, ripping off lower jaws, and other atrocities. The film even includes classic moments where survivors hide mere inches from the killer chimpanzee—tension-building instances that, as always, are amplified when a stack of books falls or a TV switches on, distracting the beast like a persistent stalker in a horror game. Again, this isn’t a film that rewrites the horror playbook, but that’s perfectly fine, because ‘Primate’ understands what it is and skillfully plays to its strengths.
These strengths include its tight runtime of just over 80 minutes, ensuring the film never feels like it’s wasting your time. They also lie in its emphasis on practical effects, notably putting Miguel Torres Umba in a chimpanzee suit to portray Ben and ensuring no cheap digital effects are used for the main killer. The film largely takes place within a single house, meaning attention never needs to stray from a few key settings, allowing the horror and fear factor to simmer consistently, then boil over when a murder occurs or bones are broken.
While watching ‘Primate,’ you might not be utterly astonished by what director and writer Johannes Roberts has crafted, but you will have a good time with it. And for me, that’s all you can ask for from a simple, straightforward horror film like this. It’s clear this movie wasn’t expensive to make, but the money was well spent, resulting in an entertaining, easy-to-digest, and well-executed film. For less than 90 minutes of entertainment, you can’t go wrong with ‘Primate.’