Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Released in theaters on January 9th, 2026

Primate might not be the deepest of movies, but it sure is a lot of fun! It’s about Lucy, a young woman who returns home where she is greeted by her father, her younger sister, and Ben, the chimpanzee her mother taught sign language to. Ben is basically part of the family, and it was hard on everyone, including Ben, when Lucy’s mother passed away. Lucy’s return should be a happy occasion, but Ben contracts rabies which causes his mind to quickly deteriorate. Now Ben is hunting Lucy and her friends with violence on his mind.

The story in Primate isn’t the best, but the incredibly fun kill sequences and amazingly realized killer chimp (played by a man in a suit) more than make up for any shortcomings. Well, it makes up for what it lacks if you’re just looking for pure exploitation-style thrills about a chimp going bananas on a bunch of people who you may or may not get to know very well. That’s what I was looking for, and I loved it.

Read our full review of Primate for more about why you should go see it in theaters.