The Stream: Very dumb characters make even dumber choices.

The Big Screen: There’s a man in the monkey suit?!?!

The Final Bill: A bloody monkey performance isn’t enough to make this horror movie worthwhile.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Johannes Roberts
Writers: Johannes Roberts and Ernest Riera
Stars: Troy Kotsur, Johnny Sequoyah, Jess Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Miguel Torres Umba
Genre: Horror
Rating: R for strong bloody violent content, gore, language, and some drug use.
Runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes
Production Companies: 18hz production, British Film Commission, The South Australian Film Corporation, Paramount Pictures
Platform: In theaters January 9, 2026
Notable Trailers: Send Help, Obsession, The Bride!, Reminders of Him, Scream 7, Passenger

Alright, Streamers! January is known as a dumping ground for random movies, particularly in the horror genre. Primate fits the bill for 2026. In this movie, Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) returns to her remote home in Hawaii with a couple of her college friends for a holiday. Lucy hasn’t been home in years, but her family, including her father, Adam (Troy Kotsur), her sister and their pet chimpanzee, Ben (Miguel Torres Umba) welcome her with open arms. When Adam goes on a business trip, Lucy and her friend more than they bargained for when Ben starts to act strange. Infected mongoose and monkey sign language hijinks ensue.

Unfortunately, Primate is a frustrating and annoying movie that relies on young people making stupid choices to give it tension. The movie doesn’t develop any characters because what’s the point. Nothing they do makes any sense and most of them are just there to die. These people are so annoying and dumb that you have to be rooting for the chimp to tear them up. And, tear them up, he does. Now, Ben is kind of remarkable when you realize that an actor is playing him and it’s not some CGI, motion-capture performance. It’s a very physical and visceral performance. The actor should be commended. That’s really the only reason to watch this movie.

Side note: If you want bloody, gory, gruesome kills, then you’ll enjoy this. I had to shield my eyes multiple times because they really went all in on blood and gore. It’s shocking and gross. If that’s your thing, then enjoy.

Ultimately, Primate is a paint-by-numbers animals-gone-wild movie that is covered in blood but devoid of any good characters or story elements. While the actor playing the chimp is commendable, the rest of the cast is not as successful. This movie is so stupid it’s frustrating. No need to go to the theater for this one, but it might hold your interest at home. Just one popped kernel.