Monkey Shines and Primate

About this episode

The episode explores the horror subgenre of lab-enhanced simian nightmares by comparing 'Monkey Shines' and 'Primate'.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re going "ape" over a terrifyingly specific subgenre: the lab-enhanced simian nightmare! We are looking at a classic piece of "scientific-experiment-gone-wrong" horror by comparing George A. Romero’s psychological thriller Monkey Shines (1988) with the highly anticipated, high-tech creature feature Primate (2026). Grab your bananas, but watch your back—these monkeys are smarter (and meaner) than you think! Monkey Shines (1988) Directed by the legendary George A. Romero, this film explores the terrifying bond between a man and his "helper." After a tragic accident leaves athlete Allan Mann (Jason Beghe) paralyzed, he is given Ella, a highly intelligent capuchin monkey trained to assist him. However, Ella has been injected with experimental human brain tissue, creating a telepathic link between her and Allan. As Ella begins to act out Allan’s suppressed rage and darker impulses, the film spirals into a claustrophobic, psychological battle of wills. It’s a masterclass in building tension within a single location. Primate (2026) Directed by Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down), this brand-new release takes the "killer monkey" trope and scales it…

People in this episode

Host: GeekProfs

Topics covered

• horror films
• psychological thriller
• genetically modified primates
• scientific experiments
• film comparison

Keywords

• Monkey Shines
• Primate
• George A. Romero
• psychological horror
• genetically modified monkeys

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Monkey Shines, Primate

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