I am no stranger to shark movies. From Jaws to Sharknado, I have seen many sharp-toothed and finned antagonists. Usually, shark movies follow a killer shark that is somehow more vicious than its peers. Jaws (a classic!) is a great model of this. There are examples of humans altering the animal’s brain and causing chaos (like in Deep Blue Sea). Sometimes, the sharks have outrageous abilities, like traveling on sand (Sand Sharks), or full-on ghost powers (Ghost Shark, Ouija Shark). Dangerous Animals sets itself apart with the incorporation of a serial killer.
Australian Horror For the Win
The film follows a shark-obsessed killer after he captures a rebellious surfer who is looking for a way out before she becomes chum in the water. Like many Australian horror films (Wolf Creek, Bring Her Back, Lake Mungo, etc.), Dangerous Animals is mostly grounded in realism. This makes the horror elements very effective. The kills are brutal, the killer is sadistic (yet charismatic), and the sharks are HUNGRY. I highly recommend Dangerous Animals, especially for the shark fanatics. While there are some moments that require viewers to suspend their disbelief, overall, it’s a good time!
Jai Courtney’s performance as Tucker steals the show! He uses his charisma to charm unsuspecting clients onto his boat of doom, where he turns them into shark food. He goes from laid back fisherman to cold killer in the blink of an eye. One of the first kills is so sudden that I nearly choked on my drink. He’s a calculated killer, but he also gets a dance break. Dangerous Animals takes Tucker’s character to a deeper level of depravity by showing how he uses his camera (one of the most disturbing parts of the film).
Fortunately, Tucker meets his match in Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), who will do anything to free herself. We see exactly how far she will go in the third act of the film. I loved her decision-making skills and grit. It made me root for her throughout the movie. Her performance pulled me deeper into the story.
Something Is Fishy
Dangerous Animals boldy wears its title as a shark and a serial killer movie. However, surprisingly, it is also a love story. It leads with romance and then dives into horror. The romance is threaded throughout the film as Zephyr’s love interest desperately searches for her. I (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) was rooting for their relationship because it didn’t feel forced. I could feel the chemistry through the screen. It also helps that they were hot! I would have loved a bleaker ending, but I was satisfied with how the movie ends.
Dangerous Animals is a strong entry in the shark sub-genre, and I am interested in what Sean Byrne will direct next. He does a great job directing unhinged and interesting killers, who are all monstrous in their own way. I recommend checking out The Loved Ones and The Devil’s Candy. I also recommend catching Dangerous Animals in theaters on June 6th.
