Primal (2019 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Primal | |
|---|---|
 U.K. DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Nick Powell |
| Written by | Richard Leder |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Vern Nobles |
| Edited by | Raúl Marchand Sánchez |
| Music by | Guillaume Roussel |
Production company | The Pimienta Film Co. |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $228,679[1] |
Primal is a 2019 action-thriller film directed by Nick Powell and starring Nicolas Cage, Famke Janssen, Kevin Durand, LaMonica Garrett, and Michael Imperioli.[2] The film was shot in Puerto Rico and released in the United States on November 8, 2019.
Frank Walsh is a skilled big-game hunter specializing in rare and dangerous species. He has recently caught an extremely rare white jaguar in the rain forests of Brazil by illegally tranquilizing it while sitting on a wooden platform high above in a tree. His assistant refuses to help him move the animal because of local superstition. He now expects to sell it to a zoo for a fortune. Frank books a container ship to deliver the jaguar along with other animals to the U.S.
However, US Marshals also need the ship to transport a notorious political assassin and ex-special forces operative, Richard Loffler, who is being extradited in order to be brought to trial. Loffler cannot be transported by plane because he suffers from air pressure-related seizures. He is chained to a chair inside a cage. Navy Lieutenant Dr. Ellen Taylor is the doctor in charge of Loffler's medical needs. Walsh and Taylor butt heads as Taylor finds Walsh to be arrogant and dishonest and tells him so.
On the way to the U.S., Loffler escapes and releases dangerous animals including venomous snakes that Walsh has captured in order to attack his captors and cause mayhem. One group of crew members escape in a lifeboat, leaving Walsh, Taylor, and several others behind on the ship. Loffler kills many onboard and takes Taylor and a young crewman named Rafael hostage, but is eventually subdued by Walsh who uses his expert skills to capture him. He then turns his prized white jaguar loose, which attacks and kills Loffler, while Walsh rescues Taylor and Rafael from a venomous viper.
Cast
- Nicolas Cage as Frank Walsh
- Famke Janssen as Dr. Ellen Taylor
- Kevin Durand as Richard Loffler
- Jeremy Nazario as Rafael
- LaMonica Garrett as John Ringer
- Michael Imperioli as Paul Freed
- Braulio Castillo Jr. as Morales
- Tommy Walker as Forrest
- Sewell Whitney as Scuddy
- Leon Andrew Joseph as Jerome
- Sebastian Vázquez as Shelton
- Rey Hernandez as Prettyman
- Drake Shannon as Miller
- Jaime Irizarry as Delgado
- Pablo Tufino as Diego
Production
In September 2017, it was reported Nicolas Cage would star in the independently produced action film for Wonderfilm Media [3] Nick Powell was set to direct from a script by Richard Leder.[3] Cage stated he was attracted to staring in Primal as he really enjoyed working with director Powell on their previous film Outcast.[4] For his performance in the film, Cage cited Humphrey Bogart's performance in The African Queen for how he'd approach the character and was given a lot of freedom by Powell to ad lib lines.[3]
In March 2018, Famke Janssen joined the cast.[5] The following month, LaMonica Garrett joined the cast.[6]
Release
Primal was released theatrically and on Premium Video On Demand as day-and-date release on November 8, 2019 .[3]