Verdict: 3/5
I have never been a fan of monkeys. Something about them freaks me out and I don’t like them at all.
This being said, I am curious about them. Many people, mainly in the US, keep monkeys such as Chimpanzees as pets, or substitute children.
Oftentimes they are raised alongside human children, and become a deeply engrained member of the family. ‘Primate’ is the perfect example of this situation if it went horribly, horribly wrong.
The movie centres around a group of young women home on a break from college.
Our protagonist Lucy invites her friends home with her to Hawaii, where we meet the rest of her family, including a Chimp named Ben. Brought home by their late mother, a linguistics professor, Ben has been raised alongside Lucy and her sister, and is an integral part of their family, that is, until he is infected with Rabies. There being no cure for this disease, the friends’ relaxing summer turns into a literal nightmare.
This movie had me completely on edge, almost the entire time. The only time I wasn’t, was when I was looking away from the screen, not able to stomach what I was seeing.
The special effects department did an impeccable job, leaving my jaw on the floor (if you know, you know). As with most horror movies, the plot came in second to the carnage, but it was tied together well enough to move the story along. The use of sound (or lack thereof) is executed brilliantly, and all in all this is a great entry into the horror-sphere.
If you’re a fan of intense violence and not squeamish at the sight of blood, this movie will take you on a wild ride and have you gasping at every turn. You just might never go to the zoo again…
See this movie at Hoyts Penrith.
