Primal

First things first: Primal is carried entirely by its lead and antagonist. With Kevin Durand performing as his typical unhinged villain, Nicolas Cage channels his best Bogart and proves he still has the chops for an action movie. The remainder of the cast is at best forgettable and at worst irritating, but the script mercifully keeps their screen time brief (before killing most of them off entirely) and reserves the majority of the movie to be carried by Cage and Durand. The tension stays relatively taught despite a couple lulls, and the plot is simple but coherent. About as much as you can ask for from an offering like this. Thankfully Cage maintains his trademark commitment and energy till the end, and Durand makes an entertaining, if recognizable, foil. Plus there is a scene with killer monkeys...Decent late night fare.

I have to admit, I had no idea what this movie would be about. Although to be fair, I thought it would play in a different setting - or location if you want to call it that. A location that is being used in the beginning of the movie ... before we get away from there in a more contained ... space.

The movie is or rather feels like a B-movie action thriller from the 90s. Quite the throwback - you have to either love that sentiment or really be annoyed by it. Not much of a story, but well played all things considered. And a lot of death and mayhem that ensues. Take it for what it is.

Granted, this is a Nicolas Cage movie, which means that I am already not having any particular high expectations, as he is not among my favorite actors to watch on the screen. But still, my wife enjoys his movies, so I also ended up sitting down watching the 2019 movie "Primal".

And at least I thought that with Famke Janssen in the movie, then there would be something to look forward to. Let me just say right now, that I wasn't aware that she had a heap of plastic surgery done, so I was in for a rude awakening when she appeared on the screen and removed those sunglasses that she wore. Wow, just wow, it was so hard to take my eyes off of that train wreck that was now sitting where Famke's face was before. Oh my god...

Anyway, moving away from botched plastic surgery and back to the movie. "Primal" is actually a watchable movie, as it follows a nice enough formula of how-to-make an Action movie. Now, action and action might be stretching it, as I would say this was more of an action/thriller. Sure, this wasn't an outstanding movie, but it was watchable and enjoyable enough for what it turned out to be, if you can take your focus away from certain abysmal-looking things in the movie.

"Primal" is a movie that definitely is for the fans of Nicolas Cage, and my wife seemed to enjoy it.

What worked for me in "Primal" was Kevin Durand. That guy was just phenomenal in this movie, and he played his character and his part so well here, and I will say that he was the reason why this movie stayed afloat.

As for the storyline, well let's just say it was simplistic. I mean, a dangerous mercenary assassin in captivity that breaks out of imprisonment while being transported aboard a cargo ship, then letting loose a heap of wild animals aboard the enclosed confines of the ship and start to take out the crew one by one... Well, it wasn't rocket science here, people. Nor was it a particular Shakespearian experience.

"Primal" is adequately entertaining for what it turned out to be, but this is hardly a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time, as it wasn't a particularly memorable movie, nor was it good enough to make me want to watch it again. My rating of "Primal" has to land on a very mediocre five out of ten stars.

I watched this movie because of Nicolas Cage and Famke Janssen, nevertheless its a lowbudget movie and it shows, average cinematography and some average VFX. Kevin Durand as a villian is okay but overall i have seen much better performances of all the actors in other productions. The plot is very thin, but thats not really the movies problem, just the execution and whole pacing doesnt feel right. If you really need to watch a movie that plays on a boat with some lurking threat i highly suggest "Deep Rising" from 1998, its without Cage but with Janssen, much better pacing and much more entertaining to watch.

If you took The Ghost and the Darkness, First Blood, Under Siege, and a dash of Snakes on a Plane you'd most likely get something like Primal, an okay action thriller that succeeds despite its low budget and shaky FX. Nicolas Cage plays big game hunter Frank Walsh who books a freighter to transport his illegally acquired exotic animals(including a white jaguar worth a small fortune) but his plans hit a snag when some U.S. Marshalls piggy back on his ship to transport rogue Black Ops killer Loffler played by Kevin Durrand. Needless to say Loffler escapes, releases franks menagerie of exotic animals and the fight for survival ensues. If there's anything to be said in Primal's favor it's that it's never boring. Despite the dodgy CGI and some phoned in performance, the action moves at a quick enough pace to keep you engaged and Cage is having fun playing a professional hunter now trying to use his skills against a crazed black ops mercenary. What makes the film stumble unfortunately is its obvious budget limitations and a lack of menace from Durrand as Loffler. Aside from a few moments, the movie downplays the threat of the exotic animals and focuses more on Loffler who just doesn't feel threatening despite his earnest attempts. There's also a tracker Walsh is in possession of that I thought would be used for Alien style suspense, but despite it being brought up, it never comes into play in any meaningful fashion. Primal is a serviceable rental, it'll kill 90 minutes and you'll never think of it again. And for DTV thrillers you can certainly do worse.