Paramount has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Primate, offering audiences a glimpse into Ben the chimpanzee’s terrifying transformation in Johannes Roberts’ latest foray into survival-driven horror.
Across films like 47 Meters Down and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, Roberts has shown a clear interest in pressure-cooker scenarios – stories that place characters in confined, hostile environments and let fear escalate through proximity, pacing, and inevitability. Primate sees him return to animal-driven terror, but the footage suggests his latest project is filtered through a more intimate, character-focused lens that foregrounds vulnerability as much as spectacle.
The film centres on Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah – “Dexter: New Blood”), who returns to her family home over the holidays. When her father (Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur, CODA) is unexpectedly called away for work, Lucy is left with her sister Erin and the family’s chimpanzee, Ben. A small social gathering involving Lucy’s friends Kate and Hannah, alongside Kate’s older brother Nick, sets the stage for a situation that quickly spirals beyond control. What begins as a quiet domestic setting soon becomes something far more dangerous, with no easy route to safety or outside help.
The supporting cast includes Jessica Alexander (Into the Deep), Victoria Wyant (My Fault London), Gia Hunter (“Sherlock & Daughter”), Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann (The Watchers), and Tienne Simon (All the Devils Are Here). Although the story is set in Hawaii, the film was shot primarily on London sound stages, with production design overseen by Simon Bowles.
Primate made its world premiere at Fantastic Fest last September, where it drew strong early reactions for its handling of tension and its emphasis on practical effects. Critics highlighted the film’s controlled pacing and tactile approach to horror, with several outlets pointing to Roberts’ ability to balance spectacle with sustained unease. Following its festival run, the film currently holds a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Primate opens in UK cinemas on January 30 and in US theatres on January 9.
