They thought he was family.
He turned out to be their worst nightmare.

From the twisted mind of Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City) comes PRIMATE, a gnarly, blood-drenched creature feature that’s already got horror fans howling. Premiering at the genre-celebrated Fantastic Fest in September, the film delivered one savage kill after another—without a hint of CGI.

Meet Ben. He’s Not Your Average Pet Chimp

Starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Oscar winner Troy Kotsur, Primate throws a group of unsuspecting young adults into a waking nightmare when their family’s pet chimpanzee, Ben, succumbs to a violent case of rabies. What starts as a cozy reunion quickly spirals into chaos—limbs are torn, blood is spilled, and survival becomes the only priority.

And the best part? It’s all done with gloriously gruesome practical effects.

Watch the Official Trailer Now:

Festival Reaction: A Wild Standing Ovation

Fresh off showings at Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest, PRIMATE is already making noise in the horror community.

“Primate does for monkeys what Jaws did for sharks, only with more fur, sharper teeth, and a far greater sense of blood and guts. It’s punk rock horror at its snarling, cymbal-crashing best”
— Bryan Kluger, Boomstick

“PRIMATE is Cujo for chimpanzees, old school nature-gone-rogue creature feature at its most entertaining and morbidly hilarious. The film makes the most of its creative premise of a bunch of young adults trapped in a house with rabies-infected pet chimp. Gnarly kills balanced with some hilarious moments of Ben the chimp, who is actualized with some incredible practical effects. Great start to #FantasticFest,”
— The Holo Files

“An ode to Stephen King & bloody practical effects. A rambunctious audience horror that is as brutal as it is outrageous. Johannes Roberts loves his intense pool scenes. Outstanding puppetry giving every fright emotional weight. Had the whole crowd hollering.”
— Anthony, No Assembly Required

“#PRIMATE at #FantasticFest is a blast of a killer monkey horror flick and reminder that practical FX will always reign supreme. Many shocking kills and crowd inciting moments backed by a fun score. Even when it’s silly, it works bc the movie is smart enough to be in on the joke,”
— JoBlo

“Primate is the creature feature you’ve been waiting for—intense, bloody, and brutal as hell. If you ever needed a reason not to have a pet monkey, this is it. The practical effects are jaw-dropping, leaving me wincing and squirming in my seat from start to finish. Holy sh*t, this was epic. Bodies fly, limbs tear, and there’s absolutely no monkey business here. Johannes Roberts returns with a bloody vengeance, delivering pure carnage,”
— According to Seth

“#Primate is the most fun I’ve had with an animal attack movie since Lake Placid. Intense, creepy, and find plenty of moments for laughs. The score was like a greatest hits love letter to John Carpenter. Oh…and PRACTICAL FUCKIN CARNAGE CANDY!!! Total blast!”
— Cody Leach, YouTube reviewer

What Makes Primate So Killer?

• Practical Effects Take Center Stage – Zero CGI, all real-world gore and puppetry. Every kill is designed to make you squirm.
• Intense, Isolated Setting – A single house becomes the battleground, turning comfort into terror.
• A Cast That Delivers – With rising stars and an Oscar winner in the mix, the performances bring weight to every shriek.
• Smartly Self-Aware – The film knows it’s wild—and leans into the chaos with razor-sharp humor and heart-pounding pacing.

Coming Soon to the Philippines

Prepare to go bananas—literally. PRIMATE is set to open in Philippine cinemas this January 2026, ready to unleash chaos on the big screen.

About the Film:

• Director: Johannes Roberts
• Writers: Johannes Roberts & Ernest Riera
• Produced by: Walter Hamada, 18hz Productions
• Studio: Paramount Pictures
• Cast: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Troy Kotsur, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann, Tienne Simon
• Runtime: 89 minutes
• Genre: Horror / Creature Feature

Mark your calendars. Grab your crew. And whatever you do—don’t feed the chimp.

PRIMATE opens in Philippine cinemas January 2026. @paramountpicsph

_{Photo and Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”}