Primal

Name: Primal
Genre: Action
Released: November 8, 2019
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 32
Cast: Braulio Castillo hijo, Brian Tester, Drake Shannon, Famke Janssen, Jaime Irizarry

2019

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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4.6

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4.6	Your Score
4.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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Primal

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: November 8, 2019 | R

Starring: Braulio Castillo hijo, Brian Tester, Drake Shannon, Famke Janssen, Jaime Irizarry, Jeremy Nazario, John Lewis, Joseph Oliveira, Kevin Durand, LaMonica Garrett, Michael Imperioli, Nicolas Cage, Rey Hernandez, Sewell Whitney, Tommy Walker

Summary: When Frank Walsh (Nicolas Cage), a hunter and collector of rare and exotic animals, bags a priceless white jaguar for a zoo, he figures it’ll be smooth sailing to a big payday. But the ship bearing Frank’s precious cargo has two predators caged in its hold: the cat, and a political assassin being extradited to the U.S. After the assassinWhen Frank Walsh (Nicolas Cage), a hunter and collector of rare and exotic animals, bags a priceless white jaguar for a zoo, he figures it’ll be smooth sailing to a big payday. But the ship bearing Frank’s precious cargo has two predators caged in its hold: the cat, and a political assassin being extradited to the U.S. After the assassin breaks free – and then frees the jaguar – Frank feverishly stalks the ship’s cramped corridors in hot pursuit of his prey, right up until the thrilling, unpredictable climax.… Expand

Director: Nick Powell

Genre(s): Action

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

Rex Reed

Nov 7, 2019

Recent complaints about action flicks with no action can be ameliorated by Primal, a white-knuckle thriller with a thrill a minute. Nicolas Cage delivers his best performance in years. Read full review

John DeFore

Nov 6, 2019

No film involving Nicholas Cage and a blowgun with curare-tipped darts can be all bad, and Primal gives us at least a little of everything we'd want in this kind of yarn. Read full review

Vince Mancini

Nov 7, 2019

At times, watching Nic Cage over emote every single line and bad guys get iced by killer monkeys is as sublime as it sounds. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Nov 4, 2019

The film too often suggests an Under Siege that’s been pointlessly larded with critters from Jumanji. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Simon Abrams

Nov 8, 2019

Granted, the movie does feature a few endearingly goofy scenes where Cage acts like Humphrey Bogart, with sweat on his brow, a stogie in his mouth, and a haughty putdown for anybody who makes eye contact with him. But he basically already did that in Paul Schrader’s underwhelming 2016 Ed Bunker adaptation “Dog Eat Dog.” Read full review

Noel Murray

Nov 7, 2019

Primal ends up being more exhausting than awesome. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Nov 4, 2019

There is a limit to the redemption Nicolas Cage can grant a terrible movie, and Primal is it. Read full review

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User Reviews

Ajmovies

Jan 15, 2020

My favorite Nichols cage movie what a underrated film I bet no one ever heard of this gem
Rating- 94%

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

TryASummersault

Nov 8, 2019

Primal is a surprisingly solid VOD action/thriller fare, with Cage/Durand at their best in awhile with a great premise.

7.8/10 Cage is in a LOT of films and is usually giving his standard insane brilliance to his roles which keeps fans watching. Now not all of these usually VOD Cage filmsPrimal is a surprisingly solid VOD action/thriller fare, with Cage/Durand at their best in awhile with a great premise.

7.8/10 Cage is in a LOT of films and is usually giving his standard insane brilliance to his roles which keeps fans watching. Now not all of these usually VOD Cage films are always executed well/serviceably in production/direction/writing which isn't surprising. This film is for the most part a well paced intense solid action film that utilizes Cage well as the protagonist with a very interesting setting and set of supporting characters. Aside from some cheesy yet passable dialogue/cgi, I found myself enjoying this and being reminded of action films of the past that don't seem to be prominent anymore that had gusto, brutality, and overall ballistic ridiculousness. It's a fun action that feels straight out of 1995 and finding out that it was actually written then makes perfect sense. Don't believe the typical low ratings by people who haven't even seen the film and bad VOD stereotypical reviews given by uptight "critics". This is easily the best Cage film I've seen in awhile, and honestly a fine action film.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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