Primate: A Thrilling Creature Feature with a Twist of Humor
If you were a fan of early ‘70s Saturday morning kids’ TV, you might recall the show Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp, a quirky series featuring chimpanzees in human roles as agents of APE battling the evil organization CHUMP. The memories of this odd show may resurface when watching the horror movie Primate, where a chimp named Ben wreaks havoc. The film, directed by Johannes Roberts, cleverly avoids using talking chimps and instead relies on physical performances to convey the animal's aggression and strength.
The story unfolds with a group of college kids vacationing at a luxurious Hawaiian home, where Ben, the family pet chimp, turns violent after a mongoose bite. As chaos ensues, the characters find themselves in a fight for survival against the rampaging primate. The film delivers plenty of jump scares and intense moments as Ben unleashes his fury on the unsuspecting group, leading to a tense and thrilling showdown.
While Primate may lack depth in character development, it succeeds in delivering a fast-paced and entertaining creature feature. The film's setting in Hawaii adds an interesting twist, and the interactions between the characters and the chimp provide both comedic and chilling moments. Despite its focus on Ben as a relentless killing machine, the movie manages to keep the audience engaged with its suspenseful narrative and thrilling sequences.
Overall, Primate offers a mix of horror and humor, with nods to classic monster movie tropes and thrilling action scenes. The film may not delve deeply into the emotional complexities of its characters or the chimp's plight, but it delivers on its promise of a suspenseful and entertaining creature feature. If you're a fan of creature features and enjoy a good dose of asinine wit, Primate is sure to provide an enjoyable and thrilling viewing experience.