It’s still 2025, but we have just seen the first great horror film in 2026 [Fantastic Fest]

We are still in the last stretch of 2025, firmly in the middle of the fall films season. This means that we still have a season of awards to pass through, as well as the rush of horror films that have headed for Halloween. It has already started to a certain extent with the release of “The Conjuring: Last Rites”, but the frightening season has room for much more than one horror film. But hey, it is never too early to start looking to the future. To this end, lovers of the genre should know that 2026 will start with a blow in this department.

The 20th edition of Fantastic Fest recently started in Austin, Texas, and the opening evening film was “Primate”, a new creature feature by director Johannes Roberts “47 meters”. Paramount will not be released this film before the first week of January, but, in general, if a studio is willing to show a film to the public so far in advance, it is a good sign. Dear reader, I am here to tell you that it was, in this case, a very good sign. Almost four months before its theatrical release, I am here to inform you that “Primate” will be the first great horror film of 2026. Marquez on January 9, 2026, on your calendars and plan accordingly.

Without going too far in details because there is not even a trailer for this online (to date), the film follows a young woman named Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) while she finds her family in Hawaii alongside certain friends. It is only when they are at home that they meet Ben, the chimpanzee for very intelligent and charming pets from the family. Unfortunately for them, Ben does not remain adorable forever, when he ends up going, well, monkeys ** t, letting Lucy and the others fight for their lives throughout a night of hellish survival.

The film also features Troy Kotsur winner of an Oscar (“Coda”), which is one of the best things on this subject. Kotsur is deaf and, during Q&R, he revealed that the role of Lucy’s father was originally written for a person heard. The creatives of the film changed this for Kotsur, and, without diving into the nitty-grity of all this, it was a major plus for the film.