Dangerous Animals revolves around a serial killer obsessed with crafting “the greatest show on earth,” and the movie itself does something similar, delivering thrills, laughs, and above all, scares.
This isn’t a surprise, as Dangerous Animals is directed by Sean Byrne, a filmmaker who has made just two films in 15 years. But his debut feature was the marvellously macabre The Loved Ones in 2009, followed by ferocious heavy metal horror The Devil’s Candy in 2015, which made Byrne two-for-two.
With Dangerous Animals a decade on, I’m excited to say he’s now three-for-three, and much of that is down to Nick Lepard’s water-tight script, which is both ruthlessly efficient and masterfully executed.
Jai Courtney has also never been better as the film’s deranged villain, while Hassie Harrison’s final girl is as kick-ass as they come, and does something that has to be seen to be believed in one of the movie moments of the year.
What is Dangerous Animals about?
On the surface, Dangerous Animals is about man-eating sharks. But as with any film of this ilk, the real villain of the piece is man, and in Bruce Tucker, the new movie features a bad guy for the ages.
It isn’t really a spoiler to say Tucker is the film’s antagonist, as he’s unmasked in the movie’s opening scene, where Bruce agrees to take two friends out on the ocean for some shark cage action. But it isn’t long before Tucker shows his true colors, and they are several shades of red, as he spills blood and the sharks surrounding his boat get fed.
Once the villain is established, the two heroes of the piece are introduced; Zephyr, a surfer who loves the ocean more than land, and Moses, an estate agent who’d also rather be out on the water.
Their paths cross via an effective meet-cute, and something develops between the pair, which Lepard’s script manages to initiate quickly and convincingly. But before the relationship can take flight, their love story collides with Tucker’s murderous plans, resulting in a tense race against time to stop him killing again.
Jai Courtney chews the scenery up then spits it out
Dangerous Animals works because of Lepard’s script and Byrne’s direction, but Jai Courtney breathes additional life into the material via a performance that fills every frame of celluloid.
In his sizeable hands, Tucker exudes charm, charisma, and friendly menace, cracking gags that are pretty funny, but leaving little doubt that those who don’t laugh will face the consequences.
Whether telling jokes, dancing on his boat, or performing an unforgettable rendition of ‘Baby Shark,’ he’s a very jolly psychopath, like some twisted cross between Steve Irwin, Shane Warne, and Wolf Creek’s Mick Taylor.
But he also has depths that are revealed throughout the story, from some pretty solid conservation ideas to a fascinating back story involving a shark attack that might have contributed to his god complex.
He’s also a serial killer that loves the sound of his own voice, and Tucker’s running commentary throughout his heinous crimes ensures the character really does mount an entertaining show.
Zephyr is one of the great final girls
Zephyr is a worthy opponent, however, and as played by Yellowstone star Hassie Harrison, she’s also a fantastic final girl, managing to be tough and brave, but with a vulnerability that’s utterly beguiling.
Zephyr starts out fiercely independent, then falls for the charms of Moses and starts questioning her own world-view and decisions. But before those contradictions can be resolved, she falls into Tucker’s clutches, which is when and where Zephyr transforms into a true warrior.
Tucker enjoys the challenge, because he “loves a fighter.” But Bruce might have bitten off more than he can chew with this one, as Zephyr’s determination and bloody-mindedness drives her will to survive.
Indeed, at one point, Zephyr does the most badass thing I think I’ve ever seen a horror heroine do, and while I could barely watch the screen when it was happening, the sequence in question is also likely to have audiences punching the air.
Zephyr and equally brave Moses aside, the other heroes of Dangerous Animals are the sharks themselves, with Tigers, Bulls, Makos, and Great Whites captured in jaw-dropping underwater action, then doing what sharks do when called upon, in truly memorable fashion.
Is Dangerous Animals good?
Dangerous Animals is a film for fans of shark flicks or serial killer stories or movies that have you squirming in your seat as the horrors unfold onscreen.
I could have done without a particularly dodgy one-liner that follows a key kill late in proceedings, but other than that, the film succeeds as a horror movie, a romance, and even a comedy if you like your humor particularly dark.
So while greatest show on earth is probably stretching it, Dangerous Animals is a genuine crowd-pleaser that absolutely delivers on the promise of its high-concept premise.
Dangerous Animals review score: 4/5 – Great
Dangerous Animals is getting a summer release, during a period that’s filled with bloated blockbusters weighed down by exposition and overstuffed ensembles. Mercifully, this is the exact opposite; a simple, straightforward horror romp that’s as lean and mean as the killing machines at its core.
Dangerous Animals is out on June 6, 2025. For similar fare, check out our list of the best horror movies of all-time, as well our picks for best shark movies ever, to which this movie will soon be added.
For more information on how we score TV shows and movies, check out our scoring guidelines here.
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