Primal (2010): cast, story & where to watch

2010 · Film · ★ 5.3

Primal poster

Released in 2010, Primal is a thriller and horror film directed by Josh Reed, running about 80 minutes. “Evil Lies Within” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Anja and five friends join anthroplogy 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. Mel’s lover and friends realise 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.

Who’s in it. Primal stars Zoe Tuckwell-Smith as Anja, Krew Boylan as Mel, Will Travel as Dace and Damien Freeleagus as Warren, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, Primal has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel and Sundance Now and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Primal page.

If you liked it. Fans of Primal tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch Primal (2010)?
In US, Primal is available to stream on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel and AMC+ Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
Is Primal worth watching?
Primal holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
Who stars in Primal?
Primal stars Zoe Tuckwell-Smith, Krew Boylan, Will Travel, Damien Freeleagus and Rebekah Foord.
When was Primal released?
Primal was released in 2010, with a runtime of about 80 minutes.