(Pacer Story by Brandon Mochrie / Pacer Graphic by Sophia Phillips)

‘Primate’ was released on Jan. 9, 2026, and directed by Johannes Roberts. This movie had the daunting task of setting the bar for horror movies. While it was a decent start to the year, it was far from horror movie of the year.

To start with the basics, the film had a brisk 83-minute runtime. It featured no notable actors and presented a very basic concept: a pet chimp gets rabies and kills everyone. ‘Primate’ follows Lucy, a young adult on summer break returning from college to her Hawaiian home. She’s accompanied by her friends who party it up before the night takes a turn for the worst.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

As simple as the film was, it did do some rather nice things. To start, it delivered on its promise of gory kills. The first kill took place within 15 minutes, aptly setting the tone with the ruthless killing of the veterinarian sent to treat our primate friend Benji, or Ben as the family calls him. Following this, a classic plot of dumb college kids doing things that get them killed ensues, leaving only Lucy and her family alive. The film consistently leaves you questioning the decisions of the characters, but it’s rather creative in its kills.

The film had some positive notes though. ‘Primate’ also references horror classics. One such reference is in a scene where Benji breaks through a closet door in a nod to ‘The Shining’. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the whole film is comparable to ‘Cujo’ with a little more gore.

All in all, if a mindless slasher sounds like a good time, then this film is perfect. It’s best experienced as a rented movie where you can spend time making fun of it with your friends. ‘Primate’ offers some good, cheap jump scares with characters who make laughable decisions. It’s perfect for a movie night with friends and some homemade popcorn.

Grade: 5/10