Chimp Gone Wild: PRIMATE (2025) Review

If a killer chimp wasn’t on your bingo card this year, you’re not alone.

Director Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City) returns with Primate, a creature feature that doubles as a bloody cautionary tale about why wild animals should never be kept as pets. The story follows a young woman spending the summer at home with friends when her pet chimp, Ben, contracts rabies. It doesn’t take long before the symptoms set in, transforming the once-lovable friend into a violent and unpredictable threat.

One of Primate’s biggest strengths lies in its technical execution. The score, reminiscent of John Carpenter’s Halloween, heightens the tension and lends the film a classic horror atmosphere. The camerawork is fluid and deliberate, sometimes mimicking the unsettling movements of the chimp itself, which makes for some striking sequences. The effects, particularly Ben, are practical, and they look fantastic. There’s a tangible grit to the violence that sells the horror without leaning too heavily on CGI.

That said, Primate is less about deep storytelling and more about delivering a wildly fun horror ride. It embraces its chaos with enough flair to be entertaining. Ultimately, it’s a fun, bloody watch, even if not a particularly great one.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5

Note: This film was reviewed during Fantastic Fest 2025 and will hit theaters in January 2026. 

More Fantastic Fest Coverage