Primate: Chimp Horror Flick Draws Cujo Comparisons
Early buzz for Primate, a new horror film featuring a menacing chimp, has critics raving and drawing parallels to Stephen King's Cujo. Find out what makes this animal attack thriller stand out.
January’s shaping up to be a cracker for horror fans, with a fresh animal attack film about to hit cinemas. Primate, a blood-soaked thriller centred on a rogue chimp, is already making waves with punters and critics alike. The film’s scored a solid 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is no small feat for an original horror flick. Early screenings have left viewers rattled, especially by the film’s main menace, Ben the Chimp.
One reviewer summed it up:
‘Primate is a lean, mean, rabid-chimp chiller that delivers nonstop tension and gloriously gruesome kills!!’
Another critic chimed in,
‘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.’
The film’s not just scaring the daylights out of people—it’s also sparking comparisons to some of the genre’s most infamous animal villains.
Ben the Chimp: A New Animal Horror Icon
Ben’s already being mentioned in the same breath as Cujo, the rabid dog from Stephen King’s classic, and even the unnerving ape from Jordan Peele’s Nope.
‘Cujo has nothing on Ben the Chimp!’
one reviewer declared, while another noted,
‘Johannes Roberts’ Primate is CUJO with a chimp – even lifts from its inspiration, copying the pan (but from in a pool).’
It’s clear Ben’s left a mark, with his on-screen rampage drawing both fear and admiration.
The story follows a uni student who brings her mates back to her family’s tropical island. Waiting for them is her pet chimp, Ben. Things take a nasty turn when Ben goes rabid, turning what should’ve been a relaxing getaway into a desperate fight to stay alive. The group soon realises they’re up against one of the world’s most cunning predators.
Director’s Track Record and Audience Response
Johannes Roberts, who previously helmed The Strangers: Prey at Night, is no stranger to animal-themed slashers. While his earlier shark attack films, 47 Metres Down and its sequel, got a mixed reception (with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 53% and 44%), Primate seems to be hitting the right notes with horror fans. The buzz suggests this might be his best animal horror yet.
Primate is set to open in US cinemas on 9 January, with a UK release following on 30 January. If you’re keen for more frights, there’s plenty to look forward to this year, with a stack of other horror releases on the horizon.