[FEATURETTE]: 'PRIMATE' Unleashes a New Featurette Ahead of Its Terrifying Theatrical Run

By Klep Napier | Wearecritix.com

As the horror calendar for 2026 begins to take shape, one upcoming release is already signaling that it plans to leave audiences shaken long after the credits roll. Primate, the latest survival-horror thriller from filmmaker Johannes Roberts, is heading exclusively to theaters on January 9, 2026, and a newly released featurette offers a chilling behind-the-scenes look at what might be one of the most unsettling transformations audiences will see on the big screen next year.

Directed and co-written by Roberts, whose work often leans into claustrophobic tension and psychological dread, Primate follows a group of friends whose tropical getaway spirals into a primal nightmare. What begins as a seemingly idyllic vacation quickly becomes a brutal fight for survival as long-buried instincts rise to the surface and trust within the group fractures. The film’s tagline says it all: They thought he was family… — a promise that this story is as emotionally disturbing as it is physically violent.

Midway through the film’s rollout, Paramount Pictures has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette that dives deeper into the film’s core ideas and creative process. In the featurette, Roberts joins stars Johnny Sequoyah and Victoria Wyant to unpack Ben’s terrifying transformation and the emotional and physical demands required to bring that descent to life. It’s a revealing look at how character, performance, and horror intersect to create something deeply unsettling.

The cast assembled for Primate reflects the film’s commitment to grounded performances amid escalating chaos. Alongside Johnny Sequoyah, the film stars Jessica Alexander, Troy Kotsur, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Charlie Mann, and Tienne Simon. The ensemble dynamic is crucial to the story, as the horror is not only driven by external threats but by the internal unraveling of relationships under pressure.

Behind the camera, Primate brings together an experienced production team with strong genre credentials. The film is produced by Walter Hamada, John Hodges, and Bradley Pilz, with executive producers including Vicki Dee Rock, Nathan Samdahl, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary. Presented by Paramount Pictures in association with Domain Entertainment and 18Hz Production, the film positions itself squarely within prestige studio horror while maintaining an edge that feels raw and unpredictable.

With its emphasis on transformation, survival, and the thin line between humanity and instinct, Primate looks ready to tap into a more primal strain of horror, one that prioritizes tension, character breakdown, and physical terror over easy scares. The newly released featurette only reinforces the idea that this film is aiming to unsettle audiences on multiple levels.

Primate opens exclusively in theaters on January 9, 2026. Horror fans looking for their next big-screen nightmare may want to keep this one firmly on their radar.