The film begins with Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) the elder of the two sisters returning to the family home with some friend’s after a long absence. Welcomed back by her father and sister, we learn that her mother, (a linguistic professor) passed away several years earlier.

Lucy’s father Adam (Troy Kotsur) an accomplished novelist who is deaf and primarily communicates through sign language is very happy to have Lucy back, however her sister Erin (Gia Hunter) meets her sister with mild hostility because she’s been gone for too long a time.

As Lucy and her friend’s Kate (Victoria Wyant), Nick (Benjamin Cheng) plus her frenemy Hannah (Jessica Alexander) settle in, Lucy’s dad explains he has to go on a short work related trip and he’ll return soon. Ben at this time has been in his enclosure but escapes after killing a veterinarian who had been asked examine him.

Ben is a highly intelligent chimpanzee who can communicate auditorily using a custom tablet that he was previously taught to use by Lucy’s late mother.

Initially on escaping Ben is acting out of character and frightened, accidentally scaring Lucy’s friend’s who were unaware that the family had a pet chimpanzee. However very soon Ben’s behaviour becomes aggressive and then he attacks.

Reminiscent of VHS/DVDs of yesteryear, including influences from the Stephen King’s acclaimed film Cujo about a rabid dog, Primate delivers a consise formulaic enjoyable creature feature horror film in 89 minutes.

Overlooking some of it’s flaws the film does a generally good job creatively using practical effects for the chimpanzee with Miguel Torres Umba playing the part.

It’ll not be to everyone’s taste because of the gore, but the film will certainly have some horror film fans. So if want to a see a chimpanzee go bananas, turn off your logical brain and go ‘ape shit’ and enjoy the jaw dopping moments and watching ‘monkey see, monkey do’ evil in Primate.

The enjoyable gore filled horror film feast earns itself 3 out 5 stars.