Wyant and Cheng on representation, friendship, and horror in ‘Primate’

Mixed Asian identity and representation

Primate takes place in Hawaii, where 70 percent of the population identifies as having a mixed-Asian heritage and where the term “hapa” was coined.

“Before this movie, I didn't know that there was a huge migration of Asian people in Hawaii. This project is directly linked to my heritage, and I love it,” says Wyant, who identifies as half Korean and developed a relationship to her heritage a bit later in life. “I love the chance to represent people—mixed people—who look like me or have a similar heritage to me.”

On the topic of representation, Cheng shares, “I feel like we’re getting there, but slowly. We need to get there a bit faster. There’s Western movies that say, ‘Okay, the whole cast is going to be Asian,’ and that’s great. It’s amazing. But I'd like to see some Asian representation with the rest of the population.” He speaks to the significance of his and Wyant’s roles in the film, as they exist alongside the rest of the cast with their racial background never being mentioned.

Friendship and survival

The film is ensemble-driven, with Wyant and Cheng acting alongside six other actors. Friendship as a tool of survival is a major theme in the film as the characters work together to stay alive in the heat of Ben’s rage.

“Friendship gives characters something to fight for. When you have people around you that you really care about and you really love, you will go to the ends of the Earth to try and protect them,” Wyant says.

However, the friendship among the film’s characters only gets them so far.

“Friendship is good, but it doesn't lead to survival,” Cheng says. “On one hand, there’s being together and community driven as one, but there's running off by yourself, and that's where this messes up.”

Physical endurance

When asked if he would have done anything differently in Nick’s shoes, Cheng has his doubts. “Chimpanzees are really strong. I wouldn't do anything other than get in the pool and wait for help because no one is going to go up against a chimp and win,” he says.

Behind the role of Ben is actor Miguel Torres Umba, who comes to life with terrifying yet impressive costume work and realistic movements.

“It’s such a physical role for him, and it was really inspiring to watch an actor go in a suit that looked so realistic and play it so well,” says Cheng, who has several face-offs with Ben throughout the film.

The fact that chimpanzees can’t swim is something I learned watching Primate, as the core group spends a large portion of the movie treading water.

“We were in the region for two to three weeks—there were five days a week, all day in the pool,” Wyant shares. It’s proof that Umba is not the only actor in the film who put their physical chops to the test.

Horror and takeaways

The fear that Wyant and Cheng experience in the film mirrors their relationships to horror films in real life.

“If horror movies are about ghosts and poltergeists, that scares me so much. But no, I'm 25 years old. I need to get into it,” Cheng admits. “This one is a horror film, but it's also an action and thriller. It's a mix of two, and it's great.”

Wyant shares similar sentiments. “I'm the worst person to be in a horror movie because it's not that I don't want to love them—I'm such a wimp,” she says. “I still tuck my feet in my blanket at night just in case something wants to yank me downstairs. So I think maybe this movie will be my catalyst into watching a few more.”

She also shares her hopes for the audience's response. “I hope they go to the theaters and get scared out of their minds, and that we get them with a good couple jump scares,” she says.

Primate’s jump scares, realistic depictions of an animal in distress, and suspenseful point of view are sure to leave audiences looking over their shoulders. My best friend, who saw the film with me, was screaming in her sleep—fearful that a set of large black headphones on the nightstand resembled the head of a monkey.