Primal Rage

1988

1h 32m

IMDb RATING

5.2/10

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Horror

Science Fiction

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A scientist at a Florida university inadvertently creates a "rage virus" while performing experiments intended to restore dead brain tissue in baboons. When a journalist for the college paper breaks into the campus lab, he's bitten by one of the infected baboons; the virus soon spreads to a trio of rapists and a valley girl, all of whom go on killing sprees.

Directors

Vittorio Rambaldi

Writers

Umberto Lenzi(writer by)

James Justice(writer by)

Stars

Patrick Lowe

Cheryl Arutt

Sarah Buxton

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Videos2

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Photos35

Top cast

Sam Nash

Lauren Daly

Debbie

Frank Duffy

Ethridge

Lovejoy

Chas

Bryan

Prof. Jenkins

Kimberley

Oakley

Paul Bridges Thompson

Lab Assistant

Nurse

Sam's Roommate

Janitor

Babe 1

Babe 2

Rookie Cop

Directors

Vittorio Rambaldi

Writers

Umberto Lenzi(writer by)

James Justice(writer by)

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Review

Featured review

6/10

**_Rabid Neanderthals on the loose at a Florida campus_** A professor at a university in Miami (Bo Svenson) is developing a serum that restores dead brain cells using a baboon for testing. When a student is inadvertently bitten, an infection spreads through the campus during a Halloween celebration. Horror thrills ensue. "Primal Rage" (1988) takes the setting of “Pieces” (1982) and mixes in elements of the Kolchak episode “Primal Scream” (1975) and “Altered States” (1980). It’s basically a reimagining of “Monster on the Campus” (1958) for the ’80s. Patrick Lowe makes for a quality male protagonist while Mitch Watson is effective as the edgy student-journalist, who’s reminiscent of John Lennon. The flick’s worth watching just for winsome Cheryl Arutt (Lauren). Sarah Buxton is also worth noting as Debbie. Meanwhile towering Doug Sloan stands out as the violent bastage on campus, Lovejoy. The first act works quite well, but the last act devolves into shallow action thrills with a garnishment of horror. Still, the no-name 80’s rock/metal soundtrack is kinetic and I always wondered what would happen if someone was under the bleachers when they rolled ’em back. The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot in Miami, particularly Florida International University. GRADE: B-

Wuchak06 Apr, 2023