Paramount is about to turn your childhood memories of Curious George into a full-blown panic attack. The new horror-thriller Primate just dropped a new clip, and it’s a brutal reminder that some “pets” were never meant to live in the suburbs.
Directed by Johannes Roberts—the man who trapped us underwater in 47 Meters Down—this film takes that same “no escape” energy and moves it from the bottom of the ocean to a locked-down living room. Think Cujo, but with a predator that can climb walls and open doors.
The film features a compelling ensemble cast, including Johnny Sequoyah (“Landman”), Troy Kotsur (CODA), Jessica Alexander (The Little Mermaid), and Victoria Wyant.
The Plot: When “Benny” Goes Bad
Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) heads home for break to relax with her dad (Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur) and some friends. The star of the family is Ben, their beloved pet chimpanzee who’s been part of the family for years.
The nightmare kicks off when Ben contracts rabies during a pool party. In a matter of hours, the “sweet” chimp they dressed up in sweaters transforms into a hyper-violent engine of destruction. The family finds themselves barricaded inside their own home, playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek with a creature that knows their house—and their weaknesses—better than anyone.
The Science of the Chimp
The movie doesn’t shy away from the fact that keeping a chimp as a pet is, frankly, a terrible idea. Roberts leans into the terrifying biology of primates to drive the horror home:
-
The Bite: A chimp has a bite force of 1,300 PSI—that is literally stronger than a lion’s.
-
The Strength: They are roughly five times stronger than the average human.
-
The Reality: The film draws on real-life horror stories of “tame” chimps snapping and causing life-altering injuries (like the infamous cases of owners having their faces ripped off).
The real “horror” here isn’t just the rabies; it’s the family’s emotional blindness. You’ll watch them struggle to accept that the “friend” they love is now a monster intent on tearing them apart.
Practical Effects
In a world of digital monsters, Johannes Roberts went old-school to make Ben feel real. Movement specialist Miguel Torres Umba and the legends at Millennium FX created a practical version of Ben. Because there was a physical “thing” on set, the terror on the actors’ faces is genuine. When you see Troy Kotsur or Jessica Alexander (The Little Mermaid) looking horrified, it’s because a monster is actually in the room with them.
When to Watch
Primate swings into theaters on January 9, 2026. It’s already sitting at a staggering 92% on Rotten Tomatoes following its Fantastic Fest premiere, with critics calling it a “lean, mean, effective chiller.”
Check out the new clip below and get your tickets now.
