‘Dangerous Animals’ Review

The shark is one of many animals depicted as more terrifying than it should be. A creature feared for its intense presence, the shark has been a mainstay in summer horror movies for decades since Steven Spielberg’s Jaws terrorized an entire beach with a single shark preying on unsuspecting vacationers. There’s a basis for the media’s fearful depictions, as any gnarly anecdote of a shark attack supports. Still, the obsession is undoubtedly exacerbated by film and television, and it has become impossible to argue against the shark being the central antagonist of countless creature features. However, what makes Sean Byrne’s latest film, Dangerous Animals, a fascinating watch is the director’s continued understanding that human obsession with danger and violence can breed something far worse than anything in the natural world. A sun-soaked horror film that delves into the psychology of mankind’s obsession with sharks and the necessity of connection, Byrne has crafted a satisfyingly violent shark film anchored by a stellar Hassie Harrison against the unhinged performance of Jai Courtney.

Dangerous Animals is unafraid to wade in familiar waters. From its focus on humans being more terrifying than one of the top predators in the world, to the treatment of international tourists as guaranteed to be preyed on while travelling, Nick Lepard’s screenplay runs the gamut of cliches before settling into its straightforward narrative of an isolated drifter going head-to-head with a deranged shark-obsessed serial killer. It’s a playful screenplay that is aided by Byrne’s deft ability to avoid tonal inconsistencies and make comedic moments tense or breathe levity into the atmosphere, depending on the situation. It’s what made his two previous films, The Loved Ones and The Devil’s Candy, entertaining and slick without cheapening the horror. If anything, Byrne’s willingness to confront the absurdity with severity leaves behind a far more terrifying film. Any movie that can open with a rendition of “Baby Shark” and still capture an uneasy feeling of dread is an achievement in and of itself.

It takes a strong lead to keep everything from feeling like it’s falling off the rails, and thankfully, Dangerous Animals delivers one of the best final girls in recent memory. Hassie Harrison plays Zephyr, a strong-willed surfer who keeps to herself as she drifts across Australia, pursuing the next wave to crest. Her connections with others are generally fleeting, until she meets Moses (Josh Heuston) and falls just a tiny bit for him. However, whatever potential that relationship has to break Zephyr from her shell is cut short when she’s abducted by Tucker (Courtney) - a serial killer who runs a shark cage attraction from his boat. The tourist trap is quite literally that, as Tucker is more interested in filming the oceanic predator ripping humans apart than in making people’s vacations one to remember. Also an isolated individual, Tucker presents himself as someone thriving off the loneliness, much like Zephyr, imbuing every interaction between the two with an unravelling of what it means to be human and the result of going against your nature. That friction underscores many psychological elements that occasionally surface as the two confront one another.

Unfortunately, while Dangerous Animals has these ideas in mind of man versus nature and the idea of trying to be something you’re not, they are faint touches that are less impactful than Byrne’s previous films. What works slightly better is the film’s portrayal of the qualities that Tucker tries to emulate from his obsession with trying to be the apex predator of his species. There’s a fascinating character study there, but it is very slowly nuanced, and the narrative ends up stretched thinly in service of constantly returning to Zephyr and Tucker’s dynamic. It’s the longest of Byrne’s films, and unfortunately, it does feel like there’s barely any thread left by the time it wraps up, leaving thrills without the same substance that left terror in its wake.

There’s a case to be made, though, that Dangerous Animals is one of the better shark films in the modern era of horror filmmaking. It understands the animal’s presence as chilling in its own right, but doesn’t lean on it for scares. Instead, it’s what the audience brings to the table - an awe and fear that Tucker exploits, which makes the shark feel like a threat when it’s the individual behind it that is far more disturbing. It’s also a film that glares back at the audience and the media's role in shaping how we interact with nature. Horror manifests from our fears, and Byrne has always captured the essence of looking inward to face those fears. While it’s not exactly subtle about its ideas, Dangerous Animals works because the characters embody those ideas wholly, and the strong performances from Harrison and Courtney are integral to everything landing without a hitch.

While Dangerous Animals can’t quite sustain the highs of Byrne’s previous films, it understands the essence of what is gripping about its characters to create a taut, claustrophobic thriller. It can be extremely gnarly in its violence at times, but it’s done in a similar way to Byrne’s previous films, where it colours the atmosphere more than it serves to shock audiences. While a tighter package would have been welcome, the film wants to have its cake and eat it too. A strong protagonist against a strong antagonist leaves the characters in a constant tug-of-war that works more often than it doesn’t. It also allows for creativity within the confined setting. The benefit of having excellent character work and understanding what is terrifying in the situation is that Dangerous Animals is always mildly exciting, even when it feels like it’s treading water. Even better is when it all comes together to create something horrifying and entertaining, providing the perfect summer horror escape that feels intelligent and exhilarating.