Primate
Film
Monkey see, monkey do, monkey kill just about all of you. Now this probably would've been a pretty great tagline, whimsically, for Primate, the latest horror film from Johannes Roberts, which features, you guessed it, a murderous chimpanzee. Ben (Miguel Torres Umba), the chimp in question, is bitten by a rabid animal and spirals into a rabies-fueled craze, attacking anyone and everyone in sight in increasingly brutal, albeit entertaining ways. Roberts, of course, doesn't waste any time establishing this basic premise, which ended up being the tagline they actually went with, something is wrong with Ben. Which is clearly discernible when he rips the face off the veterinarian within the first five minutes. Primate moves with pace, never lingering too long to trod into trite survival flicks, and is outrageously effective with its practical effects and intensely gruesome kills, making it an exceptionally entertaining experience.
Similar to Cujo, Ben is a pet, well, kind of. He was brought in at a young age by Adam's (Troy Kotsur) wife, a researcher who was studying ways to have chimps and humans communicate. We never meet the wife; she died the prior year to cancer. And the pain of this trauma is still raw, seen through the daughters Erin (Gia Hunter) and Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah), the latter who has come home from college after being away for an extended period. Roberts' writing breezes through the familial dynamics, saving time and energy for the more thrilling parts of the film. But the underlying drama between sisters in their time apart and how they've handled the grief of losing their mother could've been a rich addition to the stakes of the film. Not to mention, having the last remnant of their mother actively trying to kill them is too good not to tie back into their lives.
There's bits and pieces of this deeper examination of the characters peppered throughout, especially in Roberts' casting choices. Having the Academy Award winning Kotsur play Adam emphasizes his late wife's research in communicating with chimps and is a natural explanation into the family's usage of ASL. But once again, that's as far down the road we get.
Sure, Roberts knows what kind of movie Primate is going to be, a vigorous ride that doesn't have a lot of meat on the bones. But each morsel is visceral and juicy. Ben's kill count, started with the introduction of the unfortunate vet, climbs with every passing minute, adding a good bit of bloody fun to the understated film. But what really makes Ben and his actions excel is the phenomenal practical effects. The suit that Miguel Torres Umba plays Ben in is incredibly realistic, from a moviegoer's perspective, and the seamless blend of CGI is damn near imperceptible. The integration of CGI with practical suit work and animatronics is seamless, making for a incredibly natural and much more terrifying presence for Ben.
Amidst all the carnage in Primate lies a simple story from Roberts and co-writer Ernest Riera that pairs well with its single set locale. Most of the film takes place in Erin and Lucy's pool, due to rabid Ben's inability to swim and symptomatic hydrophobia, which allows for a tight directorial focus from Roberts similar to his shark cage survival film, 47 Meters Down. Employing dizzying camera angles and claustrophobic compositions, Roberts and cinematographer Stephen Murphy strategically craft layers of isolation, from the larger island setting, to the tiny pool. Creating a tense ambience that supplies Primate with much of its horror. Not to mention this feeling of unease and terror gets a little bump from Adrian Johnston's snazzy synth-laden score, further elevating the eeriness and isolated state of Ben's victims.
Even if Primate is a surface-level horror film that barely scratched the surface of its potential, its technical display is enough to keep any horror fan entranced. It knows exactly what kind of movie it is and sticks to its strengths, outrageous monkey murders mixed with subversion and humor. All of which makes Primate a solidly entertaining entry into the New Year.
Froth
Primate opens with an eerie superimposition of words, a definition of hydrophobia and a brief history of it along with its ties as a symptom of rabies. A foreboding tone to start with but also a shocking amount of foreshadowing, signaling the nautical nature of Erin, Lucy, and company's chances at survival. Is Roberts obsessed with water based survival films? Possibly. Nevertheless, I went with a similarly nautical themed brewery in Figurehead Brewing which boasts ship-themed beer names and a rather aquatic aesthetic to their taprooms. The dark nature of Primate along with the literal darkness outside-winter arc am I right-I went with the Black Ball Dubbel to enjoy with some monkeying around. This Belgian Dubbel is dark and filled with signature spicy and malty flavors one would expect from the style. There's a hint of banana that adds a nice depth to it when combined with a touch of classic bread. It's light to drink even at a whopping 7.2% ABV, which makes for a really balanced brew.
