2025 CATCH-UP: DANGEROUS ANIMALS

 Tucker (Jai Courtney) is the super charismatic owner of his own shark watching company. What he doesn’t let on though is that beneath that smiley facade lies the heart of a monster. On his off time, he actively hunts down people or chooses customers that appeal to him, and feeds them to the sharks they paid to watch. He finds he might have bit off more than he can chew with his latest victim, Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), a fiercely independent surfer who lives a solitary van life in Australia. 

Dangerous Animals is directed by indie horror wunderkind Sean Byrne, director of The Loved Ones and The Devil’s Candy. Events do get gruesome and tense at the best of times, but Byrne tends keeps the tone mostly light and fun. The screenplay by Nick Lepard mostly sizzles, with the exception of some tropes and cheesiness at moments (more-so near the end). This is Lepard’s first screenwriting credit, but you wouldn’t know that from what he delivers here. Next up for Nick is Oz Perkin’s Keeper, due out later this year. You can bet I’ll be buying tickets.

Jai Courtney is the stand-out here as Tucker. He lights up the screen whenever he’s on, and is clearly having a blast with the role. He’s incredibly entertaining to watch. He also gets the best lines and monologues in the film. This is easily his best role to date. That’s not to diminish Hassie Harrison’s Zephyr, though. Harrison impresses. Courtney and her play off of each other well, and the scenes they share together are highlights. Dangerous Animals can feel like a twisted, dark romance between predator and prey thanks in large part to how comfortably the two share the screen. Our two leads get some backstory, but only small tidbits. Just enough for audiences to put the pieces together for themselves. 

For supporting players, Josh Heuston does fine as Moses, a one-night stand and maybe future boyfriend to Zephyr. He’s likable enough so you care enough about him by the end. Ella Newton sells fear well as Heather, fellow victim to Tucker whom Zephyr forms a small bond with. Rob Carlton plays Dave, another owner of a shark tourism business who is very friendly to Tucker. None of the supporting cast is all that memorable, but each play their roles well enough.

In Dangerous Animals, sharks are not monsters. The film makes it abundantly clear that the sharks (mostly portrayed with passable CGI) are more-or-less innocents that are being manipulated or conditioned by Tucker. It’s a nice spin, and it’s good to get a “killer shark” film that is sympathetic to the sharks (It’s a “killer shark” film in the same kind of way that Open Water is a “killer shark” film).

Dangerous Animals likely won’t win any awards, but there is something inherently satisfying about a film that knows and is content with what it is. With Jai Courtney turning in a great performance as one of the best villains of 2025, Dangerous Animals ends up being a ton of fun. Despite some fears, this solid little horror film is not shark chum. It doesn’t just float, it swims.

4 STARS