The horror world is going wild for Primate — a blood-soaked, old-school creature feature that made a ferocious splash at Fantastic Fest this September. Directed by Johannes Roberts and starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Troy Kotsur, the film thrilled horror fans with its gnarly kills and impressive use of practical effects. It opens in Philippine cinemas this January 2026.
Watch the trailer here:
Early festival reactions have been electric. Fans at Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest raved about the film’s unapologetically brutal approach and its commitment to practical FX over CGI. “Primate does for monkeys what Jaws did for sharks—only with more fur, sharper teeth, and a far greater sense of blood and guts,” wrote Bryan Kluger of Boomstick. The Holo Files called it “Cujo for chimpanzees,” praising its “gnarly kills balanced with hilarious moments.”
Audience reactions echoed the same energy, calling it a wild, crowd-pleasing ride that had entire theaters screaming, laughing, and squirming in their seats. JoBlo highlighted its “shocking kills and crowd-inciting moments,” while According to Seth described it as “pure carnage” and “a reminder never to have a pet monkey.” Cody Leach called it “the most fun I’ve had with an animal attack movie since Lake Placid.”
Primate follows a group of friends whose tropical getaway turns into a primal nightmare when their pet chimpanzee unleashes chaos. What starts as fun in the sun spirals into a bloodbath of survival as the group fights for their lives.
Produced by Walter Hamada and written by Johannes Roberts & Ernest Riera, the film combines old-school monster movie thrills with a wicked sense of humor, making it a standout in the creature feature genre.
Get ready to go bananas when Primate swings into Philippine cinemas in January 2026.
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