Paramount Unleashes Chilling Horror Thriller ‘Primate’ Featuring a Nightmare Chimpanzee
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Paramount Pictures has launched 2026 with a gripping horror film, ‘Primate’, directed by Johannes Roberts and starring Johnny Sequoyah, Troy Kotsur, and Miguel Torres Umba. The movie, reviewed by Fox News Digital, defies the typical January slump in cinema by delivering a suspenseful and unsettling tale centered on a hyper-intelligent chimpanzee named Ben. Set in the scenic surroundings of Hawaii, the film combines natural beauty with escalating dread, creating a stark contrast that heightens the horror.
Ben, portrayed by Miguel Torres Umba, is no ordinary chimpanzee. Once a test subject for a linguistic professor, he possesses remarkable intelligence and the ability to communicate via a tablet. After the professor’s death from cancer, Ben remains part of the family, living in an enclosure outside a remote, luxurious home. The surviving family includes Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah), a college student returning home after estrangement following her mother’s passing; her resentful younger sister Erin (Gia Hunter); and their preoccupied father Adam (Troy Kotsur), a writer.
Lucy’s return home with her friends Kate (Victoria Wyant) and Hannah (Jessica Alexander) sets the stage for a seemingly normal reunion. Nick (Benjamin Cheng), a family friend and potential love interest for Lucy, picks them up from the airport. Initially, Ben is playful and affectionate, described as a little brother figure. However, tension builds when Ben is bitten by a mongoose that was found dead in his enclosure. Adam, aware of the risk, confines Ben to prevent any danger.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the mongoose carried rabies, and Ben’s behavior turns increasingly erratic and violent. The film’s depiction of chimpanzee strength and unpredictability taps into real-world concerns highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about rabies transmission and animal attacks. Ben’s rampage escalates into a series of brutal killings, with the family forced to seek refuge at their cliffside pool, exploiting the animals’ fear of water. Yet Ben’s patience and ferocity turn the pool into a terrifying cage, underscoring the film’s relentless suspense.
‘Primate’ stands out not only for its chilling narrative but also for its thoughtful exploration of human-animal boundaries and the consequences of scientific experimentation. The film’s director, Johannes Roberts, known for his work in the horror genre, crafts a story that is as psychologically intense as it is physically terrifying.
Paramount’s gamble on a January release pays off by delivering a film that horror aficionados will find both fresh and frightening. The movie’s themes resonate with ongoing discussions about wildlife conservation and zoonotic diseases, topics covered extensively by the U.S. Geological Survey and other scientific agencies. ‘Primate’ also taps into the cultural fascination with intelligent animals and the ethical dilemmas surrounding their captivity.
As the film gains attention, it joins a lineage of horror movies that use animal antagonists to explore primal fears and human vulnerability. The portrayal of Ben as both a victim of circumstance and a relentless predator challenges viewers to confront the thin line between nature and nightmare.
For those interested in the intersection of science, ethics, and horror cinema, ‘Primate’ offers a compelling and suspenseful experience. The film’s release marks a strong start for Paramount Pictures in 2026, suggesting that even in a traditionally slow movie month, bold storytelling can capture audiences’ imaginations and fears alike.
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