Imagine a tropical vacation turning into a nightmare fueled by…a rabies-crazed chimpanzee. Prepare yourself, because the horror film Primate is unleashing its primal terror in theaters on January 9, 2026! But is this just another creature feature, or something more sinister?
Just yesterday, a tantalizing "trailer teaser" dropped, whetting our appetites for the full dose of simian-induced mayhem. And Paramount Pictures has delivered, unleashing the official trailer for Primate upon the world! You can find it embedded above, ready to send shivers down your spine.
Behind the camera is Johannes Roberts, a name synonymous with modern horror. He's the director who brought us Hellbreeder, Darkhunters, Forest of the Damned, F, Roadkill, Storage 24, The Other Side of the Door, the nail-biting 47 Meters Down (and its sequel, Uncaged), The Strangers: Prey at Night, and even dipped his toes into the Resident Evil universe with Welcome to Raccoon City. He also contributed to the horror anthology V/H/S/99. Roberts co-wrote the Primate screenplay with his trusted collaborator, Ernest Riera. Their combined experience promises a thrilling, albeit potentially disturbing, ride.
The premise is simple: a group of friends seeking relaxation in a tropical paradise find themselves battling for survival against an unexpected and terrifying threat. But here's where it gets controversial... is the chimp simply a mindless monster, or a victim of circumstance? The film promises to delve into the raw, primal instincts of both humans and animals when pushed to their limits.
And if you're already itching for more details, JoBlo's own Mike Holtz gave Primate an impressive 8/10 review, calling it "an unapologetic blood bath of fun" centered around our rabid primate protagonist. You can dive into his full review at THIS LINK.
The cast is equally impressive, boasting Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur (of CODA fame) alongside Johnny Sequoyah (Dexter: New Blood), Jessica Alexander (Amadeus), Victoria Wyant (My Fault: London), Benjamin Cheng (d’ILLUSION: The Houdini Musical), Gia Hunter (Sherlock and Daughter), Miguel Torres Umba (stage production Kin), Kae Alexander (Ready Player One), Tienne Simon (Grime Kids), Charlie Mann (Lazarus), newcomer Amina Abdi, and Albert Magashi (stage production Dear England). That's quite the ensemble facing off against a rage-filled primate!
And this is the part most people miss... Primate is actually part of a larger initiative at Paramount Pictures. Remember Walter Hamada, the former DC Films boss? He signed a first-look deal with Paramount to essentially become the architect of their horror division. His mission: to churn out several low- to mid-budget horror films each year, destined for both theatrical release and streaming platforms. Primate is one of the first fruits of Hamada's labor, produced through his 18hz production company alongside John Hodges and Bradley Pilz. Roberts also serves as an executive producer, along with Vicki Dee Rock, Nathan Samdahl, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary.
Primate certainly has the potential to be a wild, entertaining experience. Personally, it reminds me of the 1986 cult classic Link, a killer chimp movie that completely blew me away. But honestly, I already know I'm going to feel a pang of sympathy for this poor, sick creature.
Will you be brave enough to witness the primal horror of Primate? Check out the trailer, and then sound off in the comments below! Do you think this film will be a fun thrill ride, or does the premise of exploiting a sick animal cross a line? And perhaps the biggest question of all: are we truly that different from the "monster" on screen? Let us know what you think!
