I did not expect this.

“Primate” follows Lucy and her friends as they fight for survival against her family’s pet chimpanzee after it becomes rabid.

A Trap Disguised as Familiarity

In every sense of the word, “Primate” is visceral. The practical effects, cinematography and sound design culminate into an experience that is unbelievably horrific.

“Primate” is as successful as it is because of its opening minutes. Despite knowing what is about to happen, the audience falls into the same trap that the characters themselves are in. Viewing Ben (the chimp) as an intelligent and adorable animal, it’s easy to see why some would want to have one as a pet.

The obvious answer? No. “Primate” is here to tell you why.

Still, throughout the entirety of the movie, there is a lingering sense of care for the animal – and a disdain for the people who put the chimpanzee in this situation. While “Primate” doesn’t go overly deep into these ideas, it evokes those feelings by design.

“Something’s wrong with Ben.”

Once “Primate” takes a turn, it becomes truly terrifying and weirdly fun.

Selling the Terror Through Craft

What the film does so well is integrating Ben into the environment seamlessly. Director Johannes Roberts has a masterful vision, capturing the animal from underwater, behind closet doors or through stained glass. This completely sells the story, putting you in the characters’ shoes time and time again.

The practical effects and CGI in “Primate” are worth commending. Not just Ben himself, but also the gore. The movie knows how to get under your skin, combining these visuals with brutal sound design as well.

Smart lighting keeps Ben partially obscured in shadows, making every reveal more effective. The blend of a real human performance in a suit with CGI gives the chimp a sense of realism.

When “Primate” isn’t showing the carnage, you’re hearing it. This adds another layer to the chaos, as the film delivers scares by overloading the senses.

Questionable But Believable Decisions

Do characters make uninformed decisions in “Primate”? Yes. Does it sort of get a free pass for this? Maybe.

By owning a chimpanzee as a pet, you’re already opening the door to questions about sanity and intelligence. Since these are young adults, it makes sense that they don’t fully grasp what the animal is capable of.

There may be groans at many character decisions made throughout “Primate,” but they do make sense. It’s a spiraling situation no one predicted, and questionable choices naturally arise out of that panic.

Notable cast members include Johnny Sequoyah (Lucy), Gia Hunter (Erin), Troy Kotsur (Adam), Jessica Alexander (Hannah) and Victoria Wyant (Kate).

While none of these performances are overly memorable, they don’t need to be. Ben is the star of the show.

Every time I saw the “Primate” trailer, I thought, that’s a classic January horror movie. In reality, it’s so much more.

“Primate” does what most horror movies fail to do. It had me tense in my seat. It had me clenching my teeth. It even had me squirming. It delivers true scares – and never lets up until the credits roll.

This is no ordinary January horror movie. “Primate” is blood-soaked fun that delivers genuine terror in visceral fashion.

Rating: 4 out of 5