Sounding like something Penny from The Big Bang Theory would star in, the teaser for a killer chimpanzee (infected with rabies) has just been released, and it is looking… weird?
The first teaser for Primate has been released, with a trailer releasing tomorrow. The teaser starts with a 911 call while horrifying images are barely visible in the background. Check out the teaser for Primate below:
First teaser for ‘PRIMATE’
The horror movie follows a family whose pet chimp gets rabies and begins brutally attacking the entire family.
In theaters on January 9. pic.twitter.com/bwx3WxrpxK
Although not exactly based on a true story, the film might have just been inspired by a horrifying true story that happened in the U.S. back in 2009.
Primate Might Have Taken Inspiration From This Gory True Story
Back in 2009, a male chimpanzee by the name of Travis attacked and mauled his owner’s friend. Charla Nash, who was visiting, was blinded by Travis on February 16, 2009.
Charla Nash’s body parts were also severed, and her face received serious lacerations. Travis was eventually shot and killed by responding Officer Frank Chiafari. Charla Nash was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent seven hours of surgery on her face and hands by four teams of surgeons within 72 hours of the attack.
She was blinded for life while doctors noted that the wounds were horrendous. In the aftermath of the incident, the Captive Primate Safety Act was reintroduced to add chimpanzees, among other primates, to the “prohibited wildlife species” list.
Although Primate doesn’t explicitly mention that it is based on a true story, it can be assumed that director Johannes Roberts might have been inspired by attacks like these to direct the upcoming horror flick.
Critics Surprisingly Liked the Film Despite a B- Grade Premise
Despite how bizarre the movie’s premise looks, Primate has surprisingly gathered quite a number of fans. From people who attended the Fantastic Film Fest in September 2025 to critics who gave an early review of the film, Primate is rolling in ratings and reviews, which is kind of surprising.
Even Roger Ebert’s website found the movie surprisingly intriguing, with the critic noting that although the film tries to be a survival flick, it quickly turns into a slasher flick.
Other than that, the film has a high rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. On IMDb, too, the movie has an average rating of 6.9/10 (which is also surprising considering the premise of the movie).
The film will release on January 9, 2026, and only time will tell whether the film will be a success or just another flick like Serial Apist from The Big Bang Theory (I’m done with the Penny jokes).
Are you excited for the release of the killer chimpanzee? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Primate will release on January 9, 2026, in theaters (USA).
