Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City) returns with Primate, a horror film produced by Paramount Pictures and 18Hz. Co-written with Ernest Riera, the feature film stars Troy Kotsur, Johnny Sequoyah, and Kevin McNally. French release scheduled for January 21, 2026.
A group of friends go on vacation to a remote tropical island for a dream getaway. Their trip quickly turns into a nightmare when they discover that a primitive animal threat lurks in the jungle. What was supposed to be a peaceful adventure becomes a bloody struggle for survival.
Between isolation, fear, and instinct, the characters are pushed to their limits in a brutal confrontation where the line between human and beast gradually disappears.
Produced by Walter Hamada, John Hodges, and Bradley Pilz, the film was shot for Domain Entertainment and 18Hz. Johannes Roberts and Ernest Riera, who previously collaborated on 47 Meters Down, wrote an original screenplay that combines suspense and animal terror. The cast also includes Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, and Gia Hunter.
Our Take on Primate
Primate, a horror film directed by Johannes Roberts, clearly sits within the tradition of creature features and animal slashers, with no attempt to hide its intentions. In under ninety minutes, the filmmaker delivers a tight, tense story where a contaminated chimpanzee becomes an uncontrollable menace. No unnecessary chatter, no over-psychoanalysis: Primate moves straight ahead, embracing a simple yet meticulously executed premise—primarily crafted as a visceral sensory experience.
The film’s greatest achievement is its immediate impact. Roberts quickly immerses viewers in a storm of blunt violence and
. Its brisk pace, maintained from the very first scene, barely slows down, leveraging the short runtime to its advantage. In an era where many horror movies tend to drag, Primate wisely opts for precision: each scene has a clear purpose, and every buildup is carefully designed to prepare the next. It’s impossible not to applaud the impressive work around the creature itself. The chimpanzee, portrayed by Miguel Torres Umba through practical effects and prosthetics, looks astonishingly realistic. The attention to physical details—eyes, posture, aggression—perfectly aligns with the story’s escalating tension. As rage takes hold of him, the body transforms, making the threat increasingly tangible. This choice to favor tangible effects over overwhelming digital imagery grants the film a raw, organic texture and visceral violence rarely seen with such credibility in the genre.
Admittedly, the screenplay stays purposefully minimalist. The human characters are sketched rather than fully fleshed out, and the plot avoids intricate narrative twists or surprises. But this common critique is worth qualifying: Primate is unapologetically a tight, visceral, and No-frills horror movie, entirely focused on sensory impact.
The straightforwardness of the story allows the film to hone in on what truly matters—the rising fear, choreographed violence, and suspense management—without diluting its effect. Johannes Roberts demonstrates particularly skillful direction in building tension. The most brutal scenes, sometimes quite explicit, are carefully crafted, and while violence can be extreme, it’s never gratuitous: it serves the film’s logic and adds to its guilty pleasure. Horror fans will find a generous, tense, and sometimes gruelling spectacle here, clearly aimed at an adult audience.
Ultimately, Primate fulfills its role perfectly. It doesn’t aim to reinvent the wheel or deliver profound insights into human nature but openly embraces its identity as a gritty, nerve-wracking, no-nonsense gorefest. The film caters mainly to lovers of animal horror, effective slashers, and adrenaline-pumping thrills. Those seeking a sophisticated plot or memorable characters might stay on the sidelines, but genre enthusiasts will find here a solid, intense, and remarkably well-crafted ride.
Primate
Movie | 2026
In theaters on January 21, 2026
Horror – Thriller | Runtime: 1h29
Directed by Johannes Roberts | Starring Troy Kotsur, Johnny Sequoyah, Kevin McNally
Country: United States
This horror thriller combines isolation, fear, and instinct in a primal struggle where survival is the only rule.
To extend your theater experience, check out January's new releases, movies to see right now, and our selection of the year's best horror films.
