Primal (2011) Review

Anja and five friends join anthropology student Dace on a journey to study a remote ancient rock painting. Their excitement vanishes when Mel becomes delirious after skinny-dipping in the waterhole. Feverish bleeding confused she physically and mentally regresses to a vicious predatory state. Mel has gone primal. Mels lover and friends realize they are the prey as she savagely hunts them down. Before they can escape another one of them starts to regress posing a hideous choice kill their friends or be killed by them. Their only hope of survival is through a cave where Anja learns too late the meaning of the ancient rock art they came to study.

Australia has always had it’s own little cornerstone in the Horror genre, dating back to the early exploitation films of the 70′s, or as they’re known ‘Ozploitation’ films. Luckily they’ve moved with the times with each revolution the Horror genre has had and “Primal” is a great piece of evidence that proves that they can still produce a great Horror film whilst still keeping their own charisma that Australian flicks seem to have.

“Primal” was  more of a word-of-mouth film, it didn’t get a-lot of promotion outside Australia, I myself came across it as a side link on YouTube.  I can say though that I’m glad I did, yes I know there’s nothing original about the film, even the trailer shows too much of what happens, but once you watch it you forget all that. It drags you into the film like your alongside the group of friends fighting for survival, you even start to feel a little tense about what’s going to happen next, it has a great mixture of suspense & comedy, though not too much comedy, just enough to allow you to relax for a second or two.

The cast is fantastic and the script is amazing! Kudos to the whole team on this film, especially the effects department who did an amazing job, always great to see film -makers using practical effects in this technological age. I whole heartedly recommend this film to any Horror fan. I enjoyed it so much that since my first viewing that my number of times of watching it are in double figures. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.