The new year’s horror season officially kicked into high gear today with the theatrical debut of Primate, a brutal creature feature from director Johannes Roberts that’s already earning strong reactions from critics and audiences alike.
In Primate, a family’s peaceful tropical vacation turns into a nightmare when their adopted chimpanzee, Ben, is bitten by a rabid animal and suddenly becomes violent, unleashing a terrifying rampage that forces survivors into a desperate fight for survival. The film stars Johnny Sequoyah as Lucy, along with Jessica Alexander and Troy Kotsur, and marks a return to old-school animal attack horror that’s both visceral and relentless.
Critics are already praising Primate for its practical effects, pacing, and throwback approach to creature horror. A recent review notes that director Roberts delivers a lean, intense monster thriller that plays out like a classic animal attack film with modern polish, using expert practical creature work and escalating dread to keep nerves on edge.
Early buzz highlights that Primate isn’t just about shocking kills, though there are plenty of those, but also embraces suspense and tension that slowly build throughout its 89-minute runtime. The film premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2025, and today’s wide release sees it finally reaching audiences nationwide via Paramount Pictures.
Reviewers drawing comparisons to genre touchstones such as Cujo and Nope say the movie earns attention by committing fully to its premise, delivering both thrills and grisly set pieces in equal measure. Many note that fans of classic creature features will find plenty to enjoy in how Primate balances old-fashioned scares with crafted tension.
While Primate isn’t yet available on mainstream streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, expectations are that it will enter digital rental and sales windows in February, followed by a potential streaming debut on Paramount+ in early March 2026.
For horror fans looking to start the year with something feral, bloody, and fast-paced, Primate delivers an early challenge: expect chills, thrills, and a lot of teeth. Whether you walk into theaters for sheer creature chaos or for community buzz, this killer chimp is proving to be one of the most talked-about genre entries of the year so far.
