Primal
Lionsgate | Release Date: November 8, 2019 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
32
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews
Positive:
1
Mixed:
4
Negative:
6
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
ObserverRex ReedNov 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
60
The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeNov 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
50
UproxxVince ManciniNov 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
42
The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloNov 5, 2019
One hires Cage for a generic timewaster like this in the hope that he’ll make it at least a little more interesting on screen than it was on paper, by virtue of some crazed facial expressions and off-the-wall line readings, but he evidently wasn’t in the experimenting mood. Read full review
40
VarietyDennis HarveyNov 5, 2019
That this mashup of too many familiar action-thriller elements doesn’t emerge a generic mess is a credit to all involved. That it’s passably entertaining but also instantly forgettable comes as less of a surprise. Read full review
38
RogerEbert.comSimon AbramsNov 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
38
Slant MagazineChuck BowenNov 4, 2019
The film too often suggests an Under Siege that’s been pointlessly larded with critters from Jumanji. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesNoel MurrayNov 7, 2019
Primal ends up being more exhausting than awesome. Read full review
25
IndieWireDavid EhrlichNov 23, 2019
Not even a fun premise and a talking parrot sidekick can save the movie from its low budget, general lethargy, and abject lack of craft. Read full review
25
The PlaylistKevin JagernauthNov 6, 2019
For all of the delightfully deranged places Primal could’ve gone, it stays drearily buttoned up. Read full review
25
New York PostSara StewartNov 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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