Primate Reviews Will Have You Swinging to the Theater
Primate swings into theaters this week on Rotten Tomatoes, Paramount’s horror thriller is already near the top of the jungle with an 89% tomato meter score. 37 different outlets have already reviewed primate, and fans will get to make their own decisions on this terrifying entry very soon.
Here at The Mary Sue we’ve collected a bunch of different critics’ takes on the new movie. (Our Rachel Leishman gave her take too!) A lot of folks are digging what director Johannes Roberts is putting down.
Johnny Sequoyah plays Lucy, but she and her fellow perspective primate victims do an adequate job of selling the horror of being completely outmatched by a force of nature. One thing that comes up in a majority of these reviews is the practical nature of this film.
Don’t expect to see a CGI Monkey here very often. Ben, the ape in question, is deeply disturbed. That might sound strange, but if you go to the theater this weekend, you’ll understand. Take a look at what all the critics from around the horror space thought of primate down below
Perri Nemiroff – Hugely successful entry
There’s nothing our friend Perri Nemiroff enjoys more than a practical effect. And, in her review over on Youtube, she praises Primate for delivering that kind of action in spades. If you’re gonna go big, then go as large as possible. If you’re looking for a big swing, this critic thinks you’ve come to the right place.
“Practical creature work at its finest, and some top tier gore,” Nemiroff explained during the review. “Primate is a hugely successful swing-for-the-fences wild time. An excellent start for the horror genre in 2026.”
Moviefone – A delightful rampage
Over at Moviefone our friend Tessa Smith reviewed the movie. She enjoyed this wild practical thrill ride for herself. However, she’s telling most fans that they need to go see this one in a packed theater full of other folks who strapped in for the surprises.
:“Take one look at the trailer and it is very clear that ‘Primate’ is meant to entertain with bloody, over-the-top kills. It blends genres to create something that is equal parts funny as it is grotesque,” Smith writes. “With great comedic moments that truly land, and a killer chimpanzee that audiences will never forget, this film is the defination of a good time at the movies.”
Bloody Disgusting – White knuckle thrills
Primate can get really tense in Parts. Megan Navarro over at Bloody Disgusting likes it that way. Her review highlights the practical effects and how much tension is crafted from the people trapped at Ben’s mercy. Folks should know, the monkey’s not playing around from the get go.
Ben is practical, spectacularly crafted by Millennium FX, and played by movement specialist Miguel Torres Umba,” Navarro points out. “The chimp’s quick but potent transformation from sweet pet to terrifying monster serves as the film’s biggest asset, enhanced by chilling shot composition and expert pacing that tests even the steeliest of nerves.”
Io9 – Keeping things simple
Germain Lussier from io9 applauds the director for keeping things short, sweet and to the point. The monkey is bad, and these people are in deep water. 90 mins for Primate is basically perfect.
Lussier writes, “Just when you think there isn’t a new way for Ben to terrorize the characters, he finds one. The kills, of which there are many, are exceedingly gross and satisfying, too. Which, in turn, works to take the at-first sweet, cute, sympathetic Ben character and make him the monster he needs to be.”
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Primate hits theaters on January 9.
(featured image: Paramount Pictures)
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