PRIMATE

US, 2025, 89 minutes, Colour.

Johnny Sequoyah, Jess Alexander, Troy Kotsur, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann, Tienne Simon, Miguel

Torres Umba.

Directed by Johannes Roberts.

No, not a religious leader! Rather the animal primates, monkeys, the chimpanzee, personalised with the star chimp, Ben, wearing a jacket, in Hawaii, under the special care of an expert. However, in the initial moments, the horror indications. Ben savagely attacks the doctor tending him. And then an explanation of rabies and wariness of the water.

Then some memories of rabies in film, David Cronenberg’s Rabid and, of course, for Stephen King fans, Cujo. So, a variation on the theme with the director having acknowledged his liking for Cujo - something a remake.

Then, back 36 hours, the very conventional way of introducing the main characters, Johnny Sequoyah as Lucy, coming back home from Los Angeles and studies, with a best friend, another girlfriend, arriving at home in Hawaii, flirtatious boys at the airport, family reunions… And, then, we are ready for Ben and his rabies.

Most of the film takes place at the luxurious home of the family, Lucy and her sister, the friends and one of the locals, Nick. And they can luxuriate in their swimming pool.

Initially we see Ben as nice, and there is an actor underneath the chimpanzee costume, an expert at mime, Miguel Torres Umba. And the director, Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down) certainly makes strong demands on him, friendly, playful, menacing, violent, increasingly vicious.

Which means that we spend a considerable time with the young people trapped in the pool, attempts at getting out, evading Ben, but, continuing attacks, violence and deaths. And, yes, the sex-preoccupied young men from the airport do turn up – but, of course, not for long!

What makes the film somewhat different is the presence of the hearing-impaired Oscar-winning actor, Troy Kotsur (Oscar for 2021s Coda), as Adam, Lucy’s father, an expert on management of chimpanzees, author, away at a book signing while the menace is going on.

The film takes on a great attn. than usual at his return, no sound when the camera is focused on Adam, the audience realising and sharing his non-hearing experience, contrasting with the sounds and the calling out of his daughters. This gives some greater moments of tension than might have been anticipated.

We know that all be well at the end, that is the nature of this kind of horror/terror. But, what is important is audiences identifying with the characters, their struggle, and the way that they can survive.

The film goes for 89 minutes, after the conventional introductory stuff, an hour of effective menace. (And, one is tempted to say, a lot of primate screams.)

1. The title and focused, chimpanzee, personalised as Ben?
2. The explanation of rabies, and memories of Stephen King’s Cujo?
3. The initial indication of violence, then in his cage, the doctor, the attack?
4. 36 hours earlier, the conventional introduction of the central characters, Lucy as significant and leader, Kate and her friendship, Hannah exuberant, on the plane, seeing the boys at the airport, floating? Nick picking them up, the journey to the house? The Hawaiian scenery, the roads, cliffs and the sea? The musical score?
5. At the house, Adam, hearing-impaired, sign language, communication, love for his daughters, Lucy and Erin, the welcome to the others? His work with Ben? His book, the book launch, absent?
6. Settling in, relationships, Lucy and Kate and their bond? The presence of Ben?
7. The change of atmosphere, Ben and his aggression, the audience response to Ben, chimpanzee, manner and behaviour? The jacket, personalised?
8. The attack, sense of menace, the water, the pool, safety? Erin and her being attacked and injured? Lucy, in charge, getting out for the float, the attempt to get the phone, the contact with the boys? The desperation, no exit?
9. Nick, his place with the group, luring Ben, the struggle, intending to throw him over, Nick falling to his death, and climbing back?
10. The continued menace, the two girls getting out, in the room, locking the door, the noises, the phones, the television, Ben and his smashing? The attack on Kate in the stairwell, her death?
11. Lucy and Hannah, getting out, going upstairs, hiding, the attack on Hannah? The car keys, the wrong car, Ben and the keys, her fears, the attempt to escape, the attack in the car?
12. The phone call to the boys, the reaction, driving up, sex preoccupied, in the house, drew upstairs, the bed, the attack, his mouth? Simon, searching downstairs, the audience not seeing his attack directly?
13. Adam at the book signing, the clients, the manager, happy occasion, put his phone aside? The call from the vet, the flashback to the doctor and his death, the vet saying that Ben had rabies? His later ringing, his voice resounding and affecting Ben?
14. The minister the two girls, the dangers, the injuries to Aaron, Lucy and her ingenuity, almost dead, the whistle, Adam and his control, and attacking Adam, the violence, Ben’s death, everyone saved? The ambulances, safety, the future?