DANGEROUS ANIMALS Review: A Shark Thriller That Bites Back
- creepykingdom
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
By Shannon McGrew
I think we can all agree that summer isn’t really summer without a shark movie. The last few years have left us relatively dry, with no major blockbuster shark films since The Meg (2018) and Meg 2: The Trench (2023). Ironically, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, and what better way to celebrate the film that launched a deep-seated fear of the ocean than with a brand-new shark thriller? From genre director Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones, The Devil’s Candy) comes his latest: DANGEROUS ANIMALS, a shark film like no other.
Starring Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), Hassie Harrison (Yellowstone), and Josh Heuston (Thor: Love and Thunder), DANGEROUS ANIMALS is a taut, edge-of-your-seat thriller that keeps you guessing from start to finish. While most shark movies focus on making sharks the ultimate threat, this one flips the concept on its head, showcasing instead how man is the bigger predator.
Set along the Australian coast, DANGEROUS ANIMALS centers on Zephyr (Harrison), a tough-as-nails surfer living a transient lifestyle. After scoring a “five-finger discount” at a convenience store, she runs into Moses (Heuston), a real estate agent in desperate need of jumper cables. After assuring her he’s not a serial killer, Zephyr reluctantly agrees to help. Discovering they’re both surfers and share a love for Creedence Clearwater Revival, sparks begin to fly. They spend the night together, but Zephyr, never one to get attached, bails early and heads to the ocean for a solo surf session.
Zephyr’s solitude is something she fiercely protects, and Harrison does a terrific job capturing her grit. Her cold exterior is palpable, but there’s softness in her eyes - a yearning for connection that's kept at bay by trauma and survival instincts. Opposite her is Moses, who wears his heart on his sleeve quite literally. He’s the softness to Zephyr’s hardness. Heuston supports Harrison’s performance wonderfully, never overshadowing her, and grounds the emotional connection between them, even when they are met with unimaginable scenarios.
As Zephyr preps for her morning surf, she realizes she’s lost her surf key. Spotting an unoccupied truck, she calls out to let anyone nearby know she’s borrowing a key and will return it. That’s when she meets Tucker, the truck’s owner and the operator of a shark diving tour company. Built like a slab of stone, Tucker's presence is immediately unnerving, especially in the context of a woman alone in a deserted parking lot before dawn. And, to the surprise of absolutely no one, this encounter marks Zephyr’s last moment of safety as Tucker has chosen his next target.
Even before the title card drops, we have a fully fleshed-out idea of who Tucker is. Jai Courtney seamlessly steps into the role, making it feel like it was tailor-made for him. He balances both sides of the character with surprising ease: the charming boat captain who takes tourists on shark adventures, and the ruthless serial killer obsessed with the apex predators. Tucker becomes a fascinating character study submerged within a brutal cat-and-mouse thriller. It’s no exaggeration to say this might be a career-defining performance for Courtney. One standout moment has him dancing post-kill, reveling in his success, and the disturbing contrast between the joy on his face and the horror of his actions is one of the film’s most chilling, albeit entertaining, highlights.
Directed from a script by Nick Lepard, Sean Byrne brings the unrelenting intensity we’ve come to expect from him. While he masterfully brings the characters to life, he also makes the setting feel immersive, like we’re unwilling bystanders forced to watch the horror unfold. What’s most impressive is how he portrays the sharks not as villains, but as majestic, passive creatures that are still terrifying, but respected. Byrne’s use of color, especially icy blues and sharp reds, mirrors the emotional tone: the cold, guarded nature of both Tucker and Zephyr, with bursts of warmth that hint at Zephyr’s deeper layers. When framed in red light, Zephyr becomes more than just a survivor; she’s a symbol for what it takes to be a fighter.
With a tight 90-minute runtime, DANGEROUS ANIMALS wastes no time. It hooks you quickly and keeps the tension tight throughout. You’ll be hard pressed not to cheer Zephyr on as she fights for her life and freedom with everything she’s got. DANGEROUS ANIMALS is the perfect summer flick to beat the heat in a packed theater with fellow genre fans. Featuring a career-best performance from Jai Courtney, impressively choreographed fights, nail-biting tension, and, of course, sharks, this is easily one of the best summer thrillers you’ll see this year.
DANGEROUS ANIMALS will release exclusively in theaters on June 6, 2025.
