Vertigo Releasing will debut Dangerous Animals in UK cinemas from June 6, 2025.
Synopsis
Vagabond surfer Zephyr has deserted her past to find solace in the surf on Australia’s east coast. After an unexpected, romantic night with another local surfer, she avoids her feelings for him by escaping to the waves – only to be abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer who feeds his victims to the animals below. Forced into a terrifying showdown aboard the ship and against the ravenous sharks, Zephyr enters into a twisted dance for survival with the true monster: man.
Review
Dangerous Animals, directed by Sean Byrne, known for his previous work on films like The Loved Ones and The Devil’s Candy, is back with the promise of a thrilling, visceral experience. With a compelling scenario, lone surfer Zephyr (played by Hassie Harrison) finds herself abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer, Tucker (brought to life by the ever-intense Jai Courtney) who plans to take her out to sea to feed to sharks after he forces her to listen to his Ted talk about Sharks. The film also features a somewhat less compelling B-plot involving Josh Heuston as Moses, a character who seems to go to extreme lengths for a woman he’s known for all of 12 hours. Despite these varied elements, the film certainly had the ingredients for a memorable horror-thriller. However, it’s clear that Dangerous Animals ultimately pulls its punches, seeming almost afraid of what it could have been.
The most striking aspect of the film, and indeed its saving grace, is the exceptional performances delivered by its lead actors. Hassie Harrison’s Zephyr is a resilient yet vulnerable character, making you willingly support her never-ending struggle for freedom. Jai Courtney is in his element as the chillingly calm and shark-obsessed Tucker, bringing a disturbing weight to his role and effectively portraying the predatory nature of man. Their dynamic serves as the fuel that drives much of the film’s tension.
Yet, despite this strong cast, Dangerous Animals seems oddly timid in embracing the very terror it seems to want to show. For a film centred around a shark-obsessed killer who forces his victims to face these underwater predators, the depiction of gore and the cultivation of genuine fear are surprisingly muted. Scenes that could have been truly shocking or viscerally impactful are often handled with a frustrating restraint. The camera frequently cuts away at crucial moments, or the aftermath of gruesome events is presented in a way that feels oddly sanitised for a horror film of this nature. It’s as if the film, despite its dark subject matter, hesitates to fully commit to the grim realities of its premise.
This reluctance creates a disappointing disconnect for me. The narrative sets up horrific scenarios—Zephyr witnessing horrific acts before being threatened with a similar fate—but the visual execution rarely matches the implied brutality. Hollywood has a solid history of shark horrors, with the debatable crown often given to the 1975 Spielberg classic, Jaws. Even back then, we were shown far more gore and shock than what Dangerous Animals was willing to display. It feels like a film that wants to plunge into the terrifying depths of shark horror, serial killers, and kidnapping, but ultimately remains content to splash around in the kiddie pool, with only the occasional splash to imply shock value.
While the film builds a decent enough atmosphere and the performances are commendable, the overall experience of Dangerous Animals is one of unfulfilled potential. It’s a shark film that’s afraid to get truly bloody, and a serial killer thriller that holds back on the visceral horror.
Verdict
For genre enthusiasts hoping for a truly terrifying new entry, Dangerous Animals unfortunately leaves you feeling high and dry. I could even go as far as to say it felt like we had experienced a TV version of the movie, complete with questionable edits designed to hide the gore from the viewer. It had every opportunity to deliver this white-knuckle, truly gory and terrifying ride, but in the end, it just never quite took the bait.
⭐⭐
