Primate (Primate) is a 2025 American horror film directed by Johannes Roberts from a screenplay by Ernest Riera and Johannes Roberts. The film is set to be released in the United States on January 9, 2026.
The film positions itself as a new addition to the "animal turns on humans" genre, but with a primate (chimpanzee) in the lead role—an idea that immediately arouses interest and alarm.
Paramount Pictures has set an official release date of January 9, 2026 (in the United States), although the film was presented at festivals in 2025. In terms of genre guidelines — "„Primate“" draws inspiration from classic animal horrors, but also seems to have a contemporary, visually expressive touch.
A young woman named Lucy returns home from university to visit her family. There, she is reunited with Ben, the family's pet chimpanzee.
During a summer gathering (a pool party), Ben is bitten by an infected animal and develops rabies. Soon, the lives of Lucy, her friends, and her family become a nightmare, in which they must barricade themselves, use the pool, and other resources to survive against the aggressive primate.
The film follows how a vacation, intended as a time for relaxation and recreation, turns into a "primal" struggle for life.
Director Johannes Roberts is familiar with previous films in the genre — such as "„47 meters deep“" (47 Meters Down) from 2017. Here he uses a documentary-naturalistic style combined with modern horror tools: a camera close to the faces, quick montage cuts, noise and tension in the sound.
Visually, the film is dark, tense, and devoid of unnecessary gloss — centered on a situation that initially seems normal but gradually collapses into chaos. The contrast between the peaceful vacation and the danger outside emphasizes the theme of loss of control. Effects and practical vision are used prominently — viewers note that the violence and bitterness are not only in the plot, but in the feeling.
„Primate“" is a horror film that doesn't hide behind effects and thrills – it uses a simple plot about a terrible vacation to look deeper into the fear of what we can't control. If you're looking for a film about helplessness, surprise, and the wild in man and animal, this one might surprise you — not with a classic story, but with a feeling.
