Primal

Primal is a thrilling action-packed American movie released in 2019 directed by Nick Powell. This suspenseful feature showcases the star power of the cult favorite actor, Nicholas Cage, depicting his charismatic screen presence in an entirely new light. Starring in the role of big-game hunter Frank Walsh, Cage exhibits a spectacular blend of raw power, wit, and defiant courage, leading a unique tale of survival and heroism.

The plot of the film is built on the foundation set by the protagonist, Frank Walsh, who is a big-game hunter specializing in capturing and selling rare and dangerous animals to zoos around the globe. His latest expedition takes him to the deep jungles of Brazil, the belly of Amazonia, where he captures a remarkably rare and ferocious snow-white jaguar known as "Ghost Cat," intending to sell it to the highest bidder.

This endeavor lands him on a freighter with various exotic animals he has captured. However, his journey is about to get a lot more intense as U.S. authorities, who are also traveling on the freighter, are escorting a notorious political assassin, Richard Loffler. Loffler, a relentlessly dangerous man played by Kevin Durand, is being extradited to the United States to stand trial.

When Loffler escapes his confinements and frees the captured animals on the ship, it soon becomes a battlefield. The ship falls into chaos as it gets equipped with dangerous animals running amok and a deadly human predator on the loose. Walsh's survival skills and his knowledge about the animals are his only line of defense against the chaos around him.

The gripping storyline reveals various aspects of Frank Walsh's character. Yet, he is more than just the big-game hunter character he initially appears to be. Cage's character exposes a deeper level of empathy towards the animals he hunts, demonstrating a soft spot beneath his tough façade. Walsh must not only confront the escaped assassin and recapture his now loose animals but also grapple with the moral consequences of profiting from their captivity.

The narrative structure of Primal is vibrant and distinctive. It seamlessly intertwines the pulsating tension of the casual monster-movie genre with the nerve-wracking dynamics of an engrossing thriller. It takes the audience on a tempestuous roller coaster ride, filled with suspense, grappling tension, and an electrifying showdown.

Kevin Durand, as the antagonist, pulls off an impressive act as a human predator, just as terrifying as any wild animal on the loose. His performance adds to the prevailing tension and suspense throughout the film as the audience eagerly awaits his next deadly move. Famke Janssen adds to the ensemble cast playing Dr. Ellen Taylor, a military neurologist who starkly contrasts with Walsh's wild nature.

Purely driven by survival, the film explores themes of fear, chaos, and instincts. High on the thrill and suspense quotient, Primal succeeds in keeping the viewers on their toes. The fiery confrontations, tight sequences, and unpredictability of events generate a captivating aura that lasts long after the runtime of the film.

Nick Powell, the director, ensures that the cinematography complements the high spirits of the thriller-studded plot. The visual palette beautifully captures the primal nature of the movie. The regular aerial shots showing the expansive sea and the ship stuck in its midst effortlessly depict the magnitude of the chaos and the vast danger that lurks in every corner of the vessel.

Primal focuses on the primal instinct of survival that kicks in when pitted against nature's most dangerous creatures, human and beast alike. This movie is a dynamic combination of potent storytelling, sensational thrills, and noteworthy performances that promise to keep the audience entertained throughout and leave them longing for more.