Primal Force
USA
1999. Director: Nelson McCormick
Cast: Ron Perlman, Mark Kiely, Roxana Zal, Richard Fancy
Shot in Mexico, Primal Force takes place
on the San Minguel island where a plane has crashed right in the middle
of the jungle. Washed-up recluse Frank Brody (Ron Perlman, brilliant
as always) is hired to lead a rescue expedition. Later it is explained
that some genetic experiments has been taking place on the island ten
years earlier, causing the baboons to mutate into intelligent hunters.
The expedition are soon killed one by one until four survivors take
refugee in the old rusty experiment fort, surrounded by zillions of
bloodthirsty baboons.
Ever wondered why there are so few baboon-movies? It's hard even to make a real baboon look realistic on film. Thus it's more impressive that this movie seem to have been made with mostly guys in suits from beginning to end (numbered "baboon-players" takes up half the end-credits). It works okey, we do not see them that much for the first hour. Rick Baker would probably laugh hysterically, though.
The first half of the movie bodes no good, with a dozen of actors dumped on location, explaining the premise as they go along. It isn't helped by the MTV-affected flashbacks and some obvious use of baboon stock-footage. However, patience pays off. When the plot reaches the last reel, the siege Rio Bravo style, it gets much better. Suddenly the tempo is slowed down with the characters given more room to breathe and it becomes even a little exciting waiting for the final blow-out. If only the whole film had been that way. Nontheless, it's a well-produced, if not original, little horror adventure. Nothing more, nothing less.
© The Inzomniac's Movie Madness Review.