Primal

In the 2019 action-packed thriller, Primal, Nicolas Cage takes on the role of Frank Walsh, a seasoned hunter, and tracker. Having spent most of his life capturing rare and endangered animals, Walsh becomes an expert in his field and sells them to exotic collectors across the globe. His actions, although perilous, are driven by a will to survive, and an adrenaline-seeking nature that adds to his rogue character. In the depths of the Amazon jungle, he lands his most illustrious catch; a rare white jaguar, often referred to as "the ghost cat".

Directed by Nick Powell, known for his stunt choreography in popular films such as The Bourne Identity and X-Men: The Last Stand, Primal combines elements of danger, jungle wilderness, and thrilling action sequences.

Cage's co-stars include Famke Janssen, best known for her role as Jean Grey in the X-Men series, and Kevin Durand, who is famous for Lost and The Strain. Janssen plays Dr. Ellen Taylor, a naval doctor who, along with other U.S marshals, boards the same freighter ship as Walsh and his precious catch for an extradition mission. Durand takes on the role of the dangerous and unhinged mercenary killer, Richard Loffler, who is the subject of the said extradition.

When Loffler escapes his confinement on the ship, the manhunt is on. The situation becomes more perilous when Loffler releases the captured wild animals from their cages, turning the ship into a jungle of its own. Suddenly, the crew is not only dealing with a deadly assassin but also predatory animals in the confined space of a ship sailing in open waters. Walsh's hunting skills are put to the test as he navigates this treacherous environment. He must use his knowledge of the wild to outsmart both man and beast, in a suspenseful game of survival.

As the film unfolds, viewers are taken on this high-stakes adventure filled with thrills and unexpected turns. Navigating enclosed spaces, deadly animals, and an escaping prisoner, the characters are forced to rely on their survival instincts and expertise. The script by Richard Leder intricately weaves together the primal instincts of survival and the fear of the unknown.

Cage brings his signature manic energy to the role of Walsh, a gruff, wise-cracking chap with a knack for handling wild animals and staying alive. Janssen's character, Dr. Ellen Taylor, is caught in the midst of this chaos, providing the medical expertise while maintaining a strong, resilient will. Durand's character delivers a chilling performance as the unhinged Loffler. His ruthlessness combined with his slippery, cat-and-mouse games adds another layer of tension to the movie.

Visually, Primal makes the most of its setting, employing both the confined spaces of the ship and the wild, untamed presence of the animals to amp up the eerie factor. Director Powell's veteran experience with stunts infuses the movie with adrenaline-pumping sequences, where characters grapple with not just each other but also uncaged animals on the deck.

Primal is an amalgamation of suspense, action, and a ticking survival clock. Every twist and turn in the story takes viewers deeper into the primal instincts of survival, fear, and instinctual fight. A rare combination of a cat-and-mouse thriller with dangerous exotic animals makes this movie a thrilling watch. The sheer unpredictability of the beasts reflects on the characters themselves, as their actions become more desperate, dangerous, and wild.

Though teetering on the edge of an action-thriller, Primal hints at the theme of environmental responsibility as well. The moral ambiguity of animal poaching is subtly questioned throughout the film, adding a thought-provoking layer to the whole plot.

In summary, Primal is a ship-set survival thriller with elements of action, suspense, and elements of wilderness danger. With the likes of Nicolas Cage, Famke Janssen, and Kevin Durand leading the cast, the movie promises to be a gripping, edge-of-your-seat experience from start to finish.