Primate

Click the pic below for my FOX19 Extra review of Primate!

Scroll down for my full Report Card Review!

A group of friends' tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival.

STORY:  C+

An interesting twist on the slasher genre. 

We’ve no doubt the chimpanzee plans on picking these pesky teenagers off one by one. But unlike many slasher films, we know who and where the killer is. There’s no mystery, only survival. That twist adds friction to the conflict, making everything that happens feel more immediate and intense.

PEOPLE:   C+

There’s a man in there!

While the roles may not demand a whole lot of range, most of the cast plays them rather admirably.

The stand out is Miguel Torres Umba, the man behind the killer’s mask. The motion capture artist’s convincing, creepy performance as the murderous chimpanzee is the main reason the film terrifies us as much as it does.  

FILM NERD STUFF: B

Plenty of technical highlights.

One scene’s sound design makes your stomach twist. Troy Kotsur’s character (who, like the Oscar-winning actor himself, is deaf) strolls into the house, picking at leftover pizza in silence while his daughters and their friends fight for their lives. 

The sound flips back and forth between their points of view, between crashing screams and complete silence. The scene devastates you.

Bonus points for the camera staying at water-level throughout the pool scenes. The low angle puts us in the character’s shoes (or bathing suit, as it were).

ONE BIG LESSON:   D

Not present.

It’s not that the filmmakers demonstrate their themes badly. They choose not to include any because that’s simply not a priority.

While I believe the film would have been much better off with some thematic resonance, I have to respect them for having a vision and sticking to it. 

FINAL COMMENTS:

This film has two priorities: jump scares and gore. Like an ancient shark cutting through its hunting grounds, the film ignores anything and everything that doesn’t push it closer to its aim. 

This film isn’t for everyone. Fans of gore-soaked horror will delight in this bloody battle between a primate and its people.

Everyone else, I’d suggest you not monkey around with this one.

FINAL GRADE:   C+

Primate is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated R. Common Sense says 16+