Primate (2026) – A Vacation Turns Into a Survival Horror

Primate (2025) is an American natural horror thriller directed by Johannes Roberts, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ernest Riera. Blending psychological horror, survival suspense, and creature-feature intensity, the film delivers a high-stakes vacation nightmare set against the isolated cliffs of Hawaii.

The movie stars Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, and Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur. After premiering at Fantastic Fest on September 18, 2025, Primate received a wide theatrical release on January 9, 2026, distributed by Paramount Pictures. The horror film earned approximately $40 million at the global box office and garnered generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot Summary

The film opens with a shocking sequence: a veterinarian, Doug Lambert, is brutally attacked and killed by a chimpanzee at a secluded Hawaiian property.

The story then rewinds 36 hours.

Lucy Pinborough, a college student returning home after years away, arrives in Hawaii with friends Kate and Nick. Unexpected tension arises when Kate brings an uninvited guest, Hannah. During their flight, they also meet Drew and Brad, two party-driven travelers eager for a tropical getaway.

Lucy’s family home is an architecturally stunning mansion carved into a cliffside, complete with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Her father, Adam, a famous deaf novelist, communicates primarily through sign language. Her sister Erin harbors resentment over Lucy’s long absence.

The family’s pet chimpanzee, Ben, is highly intelligent and capable of communicating through a custom tablet-based soundboard designed by Lucy’s late mother, a linguistics professor. Ben shares an emotional bond with Lucy, making the unfolding events even more disturbing.

The Rabies Outbreak & Escalating Horror

Ben begins behaving erratically after being bitten by a rabid mongoose. As the group enjoys a poolside party, Ben’s condition rapidly deteriorates. The once-gentle chimpanzee becomes violently aggressive, killing the veterinarian and escaping confinement.

The night spirals into chaos.

Ben stalks the group around the cliffside infinity pool. In a terrifying sequence, Nick attempts to push Ben off the cliff but is instead thrown over the edge to his death. The chimpanzee systematically hunts the group, using intelligence and environmental awareness to deadly effect.

As panic spreads, attempts to call for emergency services fail. One by one, the friends are killed in graphic and emotionally intense encounters. Meanwhile, Adam receives confirmation that the mongoose tested positive for rabies—despite Hawaii’s rabies-free status—prompting him to rush home.

Final Confrontation & Psychological Twist

In the climactic showdown, Adam, Lucy, and Erin confront Ben in a brutal fight for survival. Though they initially believe they have killed him, Ben launches one final attack before falling to his death.

Police and medical responders arrive after tracing a 911 call. As the traumatized family begins to recover, the film delivers a chilling final moment: an officer accidentally activates Ben’s soundboard, playing the phrase “Lucy bad,” leaving a haunting psychological sting.