‘Dangerous Animals’ Movie Review: Jai Courtney Soars In A Twisted Serial Killer/Shark Mash-Up
Photo from IFC Films
From Jeff Nelson
Summer brings a tidal wave of low-budget shark movies, but director Sean Byrne’s Dangerous Animals sinks its teeth into something more original: a serial killer/shark mash-up. He subverted genre tropes in 2009’s The Loved Ones to mixed results, and it’s clear he hasn’t lost his unique perspective. This horror/thriller has a unique hook that only fades when it slumps into familiar tropes.
Free-spirited surfer, Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), vanishes after crossing paths with Bruce (Jai Courtney), a shark-obsessed serial killer who abducts her onto his boat for a ritualistic shark feeding. She must fight back if she hopes to escape his boat in the middle of the ocean.
In some ways, the plot reads like Wolf Creek at sea. Bruce lays the Aussie charm on thick, his victims ignoring red flags just to avoid awkwardness – until it’s too late. They’d rather follow along than deal with uncomfortable confrontation. Like John Jarratt’s Mick Taylor, this antagonist initially disarms his prey with kindness before his true colors emerge. Byrne puts this on full display when Bruce agrees to take tourists Heather (Ella Newton) and Greg (Liam Greinke) on a shark cage-diving experience that takes a violent turn.
Zephyr meets the endearing, yet oddly clingy, Moses (Josh Heuston). A sexual relationship blossoms with the potential for a romantic one. He’s more of a plot device, propelling the tough-as-nails protagonist’s narrative and character arc forward. She’s a compelling lead who believes she’s better off alone after years of loneliness. However, the more intriguing dynamic is between good and evil. Zephyr is the type of horror archetype willing to do anything to survive, and that determination fascinates Bruce. Of course, he has the upper hand in this terrifying situation, but her wit and resourcefulness present the biggest challenge yet for this serial killer.
Bruce’s shark obsession can be traced back to his own fateful encounter. Unlike the echelon of films in this sub-genre, Dangerous Animals focuses on the cruelty of man, rather than a flesh-craving fish. It presents sharks as opportunistic creatures with the potential to mistake humans for food. Bruce is more than willing to help with that confusion, chumming the water and viciously recording his victims’ final moments. Cheap shark stock footage undercuts their peril, though Byrne finds ways to wring suspense from the dark, unseen depths. Like in Jaws, sometimes the less we see the threat, the greater the fear.
This horror/thriller feels fresh thanks to its shark and serial killer combination. However, that balance isn’t always respected. It leans further toward the latter than the former, ultimately dipping into abduction tropes and putting the ocean terrors on the back burner. A plot point is frustratingly repetitive, weighing on the pacing. The story outstays its welcome toward the end, making Zephyr and Bruce’s stand-off feel unnecessarily stretched thin.
This lean and mean cast breathes life into some of the tired tropes. Harrison plays Zephyr with a feisty emotional core in this formidable performance. Meanwhile, Courtney has the time of his life as the sadistic Bruce. He isn’t afraid to act foolish, allowing this villain to come off as scary and darkly comedic within a single scene. He’s perhaps the movie’s greatest asset, making him an antagonist we want to learn more about.
Byrne delivers a wild serial-killer-meets-sharks premise but oddly lacks the viciousness expected from him. The body count might be surprisingly low, and the shark scenes are in short supply, although he brings style and urgency where it’s needed. Dangerous Animals digs into the true predators, rather than the long-misunderstood ones beneath the ocean’s surface. It won’t unlock any new traumas on either front, but it’s a good summer thrill ride.
Rating: 3/5
Dangerous Animals hits theaters on June 6th, 2025.
