Written By: Sam Santiago
When "PRIMATE" hits theaters today on January 9th, 2026, audiences will see Paramount Pictures’ latest foray into animal-centric horror. Directed by Johannes Roberts and anchored by performances from Johnny Sequoyah, Troy Kotsur, and Jessica Alexander, the film explores what happens when a primate turns on humans under stress and confinement. It promises bone-rattling terror, cinematic violence, and moments designed to make an entire theater flinch. Basic production details for the film have already circulated widely, including on Wikipedia, which outlines the project’s cast, release date, and genre focus.
But for anyone from Southern California, especially West Covina, the terror of "PRIMATE" echoes a real story that unfolded decades before the first script draft.
That story belongs to Moe the Monkey, a chimpanzee raised as a family member in a suburban home, treated like a son, celebrated as a local celebrity, and ultimately torn from that life in a series of escalating incidents that blurred the line between human affection and animal instinct. Much of Moe’s early history has been documented in detail through original reporting archived at Digital Desert, a site that has preserved Southern California oddities and local history for years.
In 1967, St. James Davis brought home an orphaned chimpanzee from Tanzania after its mother was killed by poachers. Moe grew up in West Covina alongside the Davis family, eating at the table, wearing clothes, learning routines, and appearing in parades and civic events. He helped sell Girl Scout cookies, posed for photos, and was even awarded ceremonial keys to the city. To many locals, he was an odd but beloved fixture, as detailed in multiple Digital Desert features.
To the Davis family, Moe was not a novelty. He was family. LaDonna Davis later told The Washington Post that they considered him their son. But chimps are not human, and as Moe grew older and stronger, that reality became impossible to ignore.
Things Changed For Moe...
In 1998, Moe escaped his enclosure during a repair incident and severely injured a police officer while being restrained. Later that year, a woman lost part of her finger after reaching into his enclosure despite warnings. Animal safety advocates, including those cited by the International Primate Protection League, viewed the incidents as clear evidence of danger.
In 1999, West Covina officials confiscated Moe under wild animal ordinances and relocated him to a wildlife facility. The Davises fought the decision in court and briefly won, but public safety concerns ultimately prevailed. Moe never returned home.
By 2005, he was living at Animal Haven Ranch near Bakersfield. On his 39th birthday, the Davises visited with cake and gifts. During the celebration, two other chimpanzees escaped and violently attacked them. LaDonna lost her thumb. St. James Davis suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries. The attack ended only after the animals were shot, as reported by the Herald Standard. Moe remained inside his enclosure, reportedly in shock.
WATCH A REPORT ON THE ATTACK BELOW
After the incident, the sanctuary closed. Moe was transferred again, eventually ending up at Jungle Exotics near Devore. In 2008, he escaped one final time and vanished into the San Bernardino National Forest. Despite searches and aerial flyovers, he was never found. Digital Desert later reported that he is presumed dead or lost in the wilderness.
"PRIMATE" offers carefully crafted scares and cinematic tension, but Moe’s story is a reminder that real horror does not need a script. It unfolds slowly, through misplaced love, ignored limits, and the belief that affection can override instinct.
Moe was not a monster. He was an animal caught between worlds. And his story stands as a warning that some boundaries, once crossed, can never be undone. Being a resident in the local area when all this occurred truly makes you realize that things we see in films can always be outdone and even more disturbing than any feature film can convey.