Actor Nicolas Cage has over 100 credits to his name from excellent to mediocre and the movie Primal falls way above average. The action is swift, violent at times and the story actually is impressive keeping the audience entertained. If you are up for a night out of mind bending conflict, then check out Primal.
The film opens with exotic animal hunter Frank Walsh (Nicolas Cage) up in a tree stand in the Brazil Rain Forrest waiting for his prey to take a bite of his bait. Moments later he feels his stand moving and he looks down to see a huge cat resembling a rare white Jaguar. If he can trap the animal for a zoo it’ll be worth a million dollars. His stand is weak from the animal taking trying to get to Frank, but he wins out using a tranquilizer dart.
Arriving at the dock where he will ship with his animals he has gathered, he notices a squad of men about to board. He finds out that they are extraditing violent assassin Richard Loffler (Kevin Durand) back the United States for trial. Accompanying Loffler, along with several police is U.S. Marshall John Ringer (LaMonica Garrett) and Navy Lt. and Neurologist Dr. Ellen Taylor (Famke Janssen).
The boat leaves the doc without incident with the two caged “animals” locked in the lower deck cargo area. It’s the beginning of a trip that will find everyone in jeopardy from both Loffler and the animals on board. Director Nick Powell moves his film along at a fast clip after introducing the main characters and then putting them in danger. The action is nicely choreographed, the scenes are very realistic and his actors do a very good job of portraying the roles.
As for the star of the film, Nicholas Cage is at the top of his game putting a 100% in the role of the big game hunter who finds himself tracking a more dangerous prey than ever before. As Frank, Cage shows the man knows his profession and when it comes to facing off against a wild animal, he gets the test his life facing the violent Loffler.
Primal has been rated R for violence and language. The violence gets very brutal at times so beware when wanting to bring a youngster tag along to the movie.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A nice change of pace action film. (3.5 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Famke Janssen, Kevin Durand, LaMonica Garrett, Michael Imperioli, Tommy walker, Rey Hernandez, John Lewis
Directed by: Nick Powell
Genre: Action
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language
Running Time: 1 hr. 37 min
Opening Date: November 8, 2019
Distributed by: Lionsgate Films
Released in: Theaters
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
