Dangerous Animals (15)

Director: Sean Byrne
Screenplay: Nick Lepard

Starring: Jai Courtney, Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston
Running time: 97 minutes

Cinema

​

Review: RJ Bland

​

Shark movies eh? Why is it that we simply can't get enough of them? Much like exorcism films, there's something oddly irresistible about the formula. Both subgenres began and peaked in the 1970s, each marked by a singular, genre-defining film: The Exorcist (1973) for demonic possession, and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975) for aquatic terror. In both cases, filmmakers have spent decades trying to recapture the magic - and the fear - that those original movies sparked.

​

Despite a few solid attempts, no exorcism film has quite managed to replicate the sheer cultural and psychological impact of The Exorcist. The same can be said for shark movies. Since Jaws first terrified audiences and effectively ruined beach holidays for an entire generation, sharks have maintained a strong and steady presence in cinema. That primal fear of what lurks beneath the surface remains strong, and filmmakers have been mining it ever since.

​

Over the years, there have been some notable entries - The Shallows, The Reef, Open Water - that successfully tapped into that terror. But the subgenre has also seen more than its fair share of misfires (cough The Meg). Interestingly, while exorcism films often struggle to break free from a fairly rigid narrative formula - see our review of The Ritual for a prime example - shark movies have begun to evolve. Audiences, it seems, are looking for more than just the usual “boat sinks, sharks attack” premise.

Some filmmakers have taken note. The Meg (2018), while undeniably overblown and narratively shallow, introduced a prehistoric predator the size of a house. Deep Blue Sea (1999) brought us genetically engineered super-sharks and a surprisingly star-studded cast and Under Paris (2023) went full high-concept, placing a monstrous shark in the middle of an urban river. And then there’s Sharknado (2013), which… well, we don’t need to explain that one surely. Now, director Sean Byrne enters the waters with Dangerous Animals, a film that charts a slightly different course – attempting to blend classic toothy oceanic suspense with the psychological tension of a serial killer narrative.

​

Tucker (Jai Courtney) is a rugged, physically imposing fella who operates as a seemingly affable boat captain, offering adventure tourism experiences along the stunning Australian coastline. His specialty? Cage diving excursions that promise thrill-seekers the chance to come face-to-face with the ocean’s most feared predators: sharks. With his easy-going Ozzie charm and laid-back demeanour, Tucker appears to be just another local character cashing in on the adrenaline-fueled tourist trade. However, beneath his charismatic exterior lies something far more sinister. Because what he is really doing is overpowering said tourists, lowering them into the sea and then filming them being chomped into pieces by the sharks. It’s snuff, but with an aquatic edge. But Tucker may have finally met his match in his latest intended victim. Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) is a headstrong, free-spirited American in her early thirties, who’s been roaming the country in her camper van, surfing beaches and living by her own rules. Resourceful, street-smart, and with a rebellious streak, she’s spent years navigating life on her own terms. Her rough upbringing has made her resilient, self-reliant, and quick to adapt. But then she’s never faced anything quite like a shark-obsessed hulking psychopath with a camera…

​

Director Sean Byrne may not be the most prolific filmmaker, but when he does step behind the camera, the results are pretty bloody good. His debut feature, The Loved Ones (2009), remains a twisted, brutal gem, while The Devil’s Candy (2015) was just as subversive, and stylish. His latest, Dangerous Animals, continues in that same vein, delivering a potent mix of violent thrills, macabre humour, and unhinged energy. In many respects, the film feels like a deliberate throwback to the grimy, gonzo B-movies that filled late-night cinema slots and drive-ins during the late 1970s - films like Tobe Hooper’s Eaten Alive or Joe Dante’s Piranha. Once the narrative kicks into gear, Dangerous Animals takes on a madcap, almost chaotic momentum. This manic energy owes much to Byrne’s confident, kinetic direction, but the film’s true power lies in its two lead performances

​

Hassie Harrison is an actress who was already starting to turn heads a little thanks to her turn in Yellowstone. Her performance in Dangerous Animals will only alert more people to her talents. She is formidable here, marrying up a fierce independence with a subtle vulnerability that’s both believable and difficult not to root for. She’s a fighter – and she has to be. Because her nemesis is a force of nature; a great white shark of a human. And Jai Courtney’s deranged performance propels the narrative forwards at a brisk pace. Jai Courtney, whose past roles in big-budget fare (Terminator Genisys, A Good Day to Die Hard) didn’t quite showcase his full potential, finds his stride here with a deranged, darkly charismatic performance. What’s so great (and frightening) about Tucker is that he’s clearly having fun killing these hapless tourists. He’s an Aussie Alpha Male that’s malfunctioned and it's a joy to watch.

​

The film is not short on brutality and gore and there are a couple of genuinely nerve shredding (and rather grim) moments when potential victims are lowered into the sea as sharks circle beneath. It would have been nice to have had a bit more shark action perhaps. While the sequences we do get are well-executed and the visual effects are solid throughout, the primary antagonist here is Tucker, not the sharks. But as compelling as Courtney’s performance is, it might have been nice to have a couple more sharky sequences. It’s also, dare I say it, a little predictable in terms of where the narrative goes. But hey, when it’s as engaging and dynamic as this, that’s not a dealbreaker.