5 Killer Monkey Movies to Watch After ‘Primate’
Killer monkeys are one of the best subgenres of horror. More often than not, a primate going mad is simply nature correcting itself. The premise usually follows a diabolical scientist or some researcher performing unethical experiments or procedures on a monkey for the sake of science and the greater good. They usually fail to anticipate the monkeys’ reactionary behaviors from being injected with an unwanted hormone, for example, and unwittingly trigger a much-deserved murderous rampage. It’s a perfect example of “they had it coming” if you’ve ever seen one.
Horror has a long history of exploring the wicked end of scientific innovation and animal exploitation. From The Invisible Man and The Island of Lost Souls to The Fly and The Kindred, the genre leaves no stone unturned when it comes to nature rising up against humanity. With last week’s release of Johannes Roberts‘ Primate, we’ve compiled five other killer monkey movies you should watch or revisit.
Monkey Shines (1988)
George A. Romero’s Monkey Shines opens with a disclaimer stating that no monkeys were harmed in the making of the film. When you begin watching, you quickly understand why. Athlete Allan (Jason Beghe) gets hit by a truck and is rendered quadriplegic following intensive surgery. His good friend and research scientist Geoffrey (John Pankow) suggests he get a service monkey to lift his spirits and help around the house. The monkey, named Ella, forms a deep bond with Allan, and it certainly appears to bring happiness into his life. But when those around him, including his overprotective mother and live-in nurse, cause him emotional distress, Ella takes it upon herself to do a bit of bloodletting.
Like most films featuring killer animals, Monkey Shines demonstrates the disturbing exploitation of wild animals for the sake of science. While many of the kills are left to the imagination, it all pays off in the third act with plenty of blood, guts, and gore. Romero keeps the cards close to the vest and unleashes absolute hell when the time is right.
Nope (2022)
Ok, Jordan Peele‘s Nope is not technically a monkey movie, but it does feature a wildly unsettling backstory for Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yeun), a former child star and proprietor of a local attraction called Jupiter’s Claim. In carefully placed flashbacks, the viewer gets a glimpse into Jupe’s work on the popular children’s show, Gordy’s Home. During the filming of what should have been a delightful birthday-themed episode, chimpanzee Gordy (Terry Notary) reaches his breaking point after a balloon pops. His bloody rampage leaves many dead and another permanently disfigured. Gordy left a young, wide-eyed Jupe alive and unhurt under a catering table.
This subplot hammers home the story’s theme of the tragic mistreatment of animals on film sets. Running parallel beside the alien main thread, the devastating massacre and inevitable shooting of Gordy serves as a dark reminder that wild animals will always be instinctual when it comes to protecting themselves.
Shakma (1990)
Big surprise: an experiment goes wrong in this rarely talked about killer monkey movie. Co-directors Hugh Parks and Tom Logan‘s Shakma progresses as one might expect. After a baboon named Shakma is injected with a hormone meant to suppress aggression, it has the opposite effect. Shakma goes mad almost immediately. Medical student Sam (Christopher Atkins) is instructed to put it down by his professor Sorensen (Roddy McDowall) but fails to do so. Sorensen decides to perform anecropsy the next day, so he leaves him unconscious. That night, Sorensen puts together a live-action role-playing game involving many of his students. Naturally, things quickly go awry when Shakma stalks the dark hallways in pursuit of a smorgasbord of victims.
Shakma, an ideal pairing with Monkey Shines, adheres to the conventions and tropes of this particular subgenre but has a blast while doing it. The script might not be great, but the action never disappoints. It’s the perfect example of a mess around and find out scenario.
Phenomena (1985)
When treated kindly, chimps are incredibly loyal and protective. In Dario Argento‘s Phenomena, forensic entomologist John McGregor (Donald Pleasence) and Inspector Rudolf Geiger (Patrick Bauchau) investigate disappearances of young girls. McGregor, who raised and bonded with a chimp named Inga, gets a surprise with the arrival of a new student, Jennifer (Jennifer Connelly). Jennifer appears to harbor a telekinetic link with insects, and with McGregor’s help, she uses her powers to help track down the unknown assailant and murderer of girls. Inga comes into play after a deadly, despicable act (no spoilers!) leaves her with no other options but to use force.
Phenomena never gets enough credit for its compassionate portrayal of a monkey. There are no unethical experiments or forced training. Inga is just a deeply dedicated and irrefutably loving chimpanzee doing right by McGregor. Inga deserves the world.
Link (1986)
Director Richard Franklin, the man behind Psycho II, one of the greatest sequels of all time, brings an urgent and terrifying sensibility to Link. Anthropologist Steven Phillip (Terence Stamp) researches three apes to find a link between apes and human beings. When young girl Jane (Elisabeth Sue) comes to work as an assistant at his secluded estate for the summer, she is greeted by Link, an organtan in a butler’s suit. When Phillip leaves for London, Jane is left to care for the three apes. But what she doesn’t anticipate is all-out anarchy within the mansion’s walls.
Link takes the usual “animals done wrong” story up to 11. As Link and his comrades grow increasingly violent, so does Jane’s will to survive. We’ve seen this setup dozens of times before, but Franklin allows the story to breathe and utter chaos rain down.
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