Skip to main content

Primate (2026)


Primate (2026)
is a slasher horror built around a simple hook, a rabid monkey on a killing spree, but it leans far too heavily on genre tropes without doing anything interesting with them. Logical inconsistencies are the film’s biggest issue, with characters repeatedly making baffling decisions that pull you out of the experience. Several deaths are outright spoiled in the trailer, which drains what little tension the film manages to build. The trailer would, wrongfully, make you believe that the audience is being scared the same way Paranormal Activity did. There is also an unfortunate character design choice that feels engineered purely for clout rather than story or theme.

Johnny Sequoyah, who some may remember from Assassination Nation and the TV series Dexter: New Blood, is positioned early on as the clear final girl. The film telegraphs this so hard that there is never any real suspense about her survival. Once she is framed as the moral and emotional center, the rest of the cast feels disposable by design, which undercuts the slasher formula entirely.

Victoria Wyant, known for the TV show Foundation, overacts throughout much of the film. Her performance is loud and exaggerated in a way that clashes with the already shaky tone. Instead of elevating the material, it highlights how thin the writing is, especially when emotional beats are supposed to land.

Jess Alexander, who was in The Little Mermaid, ends up being the most interesting presence. Her character is better written and more grounded than most, and the film hints at a background that never gets explored. Ironically, she is the one character who feels like she belongs in a smarter version of this movie, and it is disappointing that the script does not give her more to work with.

Overall, Primate is a serviceable but frustrating slasher. Between spoiled kills, obvious plotting, and illogical character behavior, it never rises above mediocrity. There are flashes of something better here, but they are buried under poor writing choices and wasted potential. Result: C

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is directed by Jon Favreau , known for Iron Man and Chef , with much of the story influence clearly coming from Dave Filoni , known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Ahsoka . Unfortunately, the film falls into the same “and then” style of storytelling that hurts many modern franchise films, where scenes feel stitched together without enough meaningful progression. Entire stretches of the movie, particularly long sequences involving Grogu wandering through a forest, feel padded and lacking purpose. Instead of building momentum, the film drifts from moment to moment without ever creating a compelling central narrative. Pedro Pascal , known for The Last of Us and Narcos , once again plays the Mandalorian, though his presence feels strangely limited. It is difficult not to notice how often the character appears disconnected physically and vocally, giving the impression that Pascal himself may not have been involved in large portions of the performa...

Passenger (2026)

Passenger is directed by André Øvredal , known for The Autopsy of Jane Doe and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark , with a script by Zachary Donohue and T.W. Burgess . The film centers around a demonic presence tied closely to the title itself, and when it focuses directly on the horror elements, it works surprisingly well. Øvredal still understands how to stage tension and build effective scares, but the material between those moments struggles to stay engaging. The pacing slows considerably whenever the horror steps aside, leaving the film feeling uneven overall. Jacob Scipio , known for Bad Boys for Life and Expend4bles , takes on the boyfriend role but never fully feels like someone the audience naturally roots for. Whether intentional or not, his screen presence lacks the vulnerability or charisma needed to carry the quieter sections of the film. He handles the horror scenes competently enough, but the emotional connection never really forms. Lou Llobell , known for Foundatio...

In the Grey (2026)

In the Grey is written and directed by Guy Ritchie , known for Snatch and The Gentlemen , and the film carries all the style and personality audiences expect from him. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is confident, and the story constantly moves with a sense of swagger that keeps it entertaining throughout. Ritchie once again proves he knows how to make even familiar action setups feel fresh through his direction and character work. Eiza González , known for Baby Driver and Ambulance , plays the beautiful and manipulative lawyer role perfectly. She brings confidence and charisma to every scene, balancing charm with danger in a way that fits naturally into Ritchie’s world. Beyond just looking the part, she fully commits to the character’s aggressive personality and ends up being one of the film’s strongest presences. Henry Cavill , known for Man of Steel and The Witcher , delivers another very likable performance. His natural charm works extremely well here, especially in the fil...