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Primal
2019 97 min United States of America R 16+
★5.2
Action, Adventure, Thriller
Director: Nick Powell
Trailers
Description
A big-game hunter for zoos books passage on a Greek shipping freighter with a fresh haul of exotic and deadly animals from the Amazon, including a rare white Jaguar – along with a political assassin being extradited to the U.S in secret. Two days into the journey, the assassin escapes and releases the captive animals, throwing the ship into chaos.
Budget:
$9M
Worldwide:
$146,863
Starring
Nicolas Cage
Actor
Famke Janssen
Actor
Kevin Durand
Actor
Key opinion
Primal is widely regarded as a B-movie throwback that leans into a campy 90s thriller aesthetic. While the film is generally viewed as flawed and visually dated, audiences are divided on whether its chaotic, eccentric energy provides fun entertainment or merely reflects a lack of quality.
| Production | The film's visual effects, particularly the CGI of the white jaguar, are consistently described as cheap, dated, and reminiscent of early-2000s software. | |
| Screenplay | The plot is frequently criticized for its implausible narrative logic and numerous inconsistencies, despite a premise that shows promise. | |
| Acting | Nicolas Cage's performance draws conflicting reactions, with some finding his rugged, eccentric portrayal vivid and fitting, while others view his acting as exhausted and repetitive. | |
| Pacing | The pacing divides viewers, with some finding the brisk action-adventure tone engaging and others complaining of a sluggish, uneven momentum. |