Synopsis

Set against the stunning yet unforgiving backdrop of Australia’s Gold Coast, Dangerous Animals follows American surfer Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), who becomes entangled in a sudden romance with Moses (Josh Heuston). Her adventure takes a terrifying turn when she is kidnapped by Tucker (Jai Courtney), a fisherman whose obsession with sharks hides a monstrous truth. On the open sea, Zephyr must confront both her captor and her own will to survive.

Review

I’ll admit it—I knew nothing about Dangerous Animals going in. I hadn’t seen the trailer, hadn’t read a synopsis. What caught my attention was the poster: its bold, unusual design immediately made me curious enough to buy a ticket. And I’m glad I did.

The standout of the film, without question, is Jai Courtney. While the rest of the cast delivered solid performances, Courtney’s portrayal of Tucker completely stole the show. His transformation into a shark-obsessed psychopath was disturbingly convincing—he radiated both menace and fascination, making it impossible to look away even when his actions turned very dark.

What impressed me the most was how fresh this film felt within the shark‑movie genre. There had plenty of shark thrillers before, but I thought Dangerous Animals brought something different—an unsettling human villain whose obsession made the sharks feel almost secondary. I thought the tension never dipped, and there were no dull or unnecessary stretches, which kept me fully engaged from start to finish.

Overall the experience was very solid, and I am very excited to see what Sean Byrne might create next.

Popcorn Rating (🍿🍿🍿)