Bay… bee… shark… do-do do-do-do-doo, Baby Shark… do-do do-do-do-doo
Directed by Sean Byrne, Dangerous Animals tells the story of Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), a free-spirited surfer who likes to keep to herself. When she meets Moses (Josh Heuston), there’s an instant connection but she isn’t looking for much more one night. However, after she is abducted by Tucker (Jai Courtney), Zephyr must find a way to survive before she becomes his next victim… and chum for the circling sharks below.
Oddly, Dangerous Animals attempts to sell itself as a ‘shark film’ but that’s not entirely accurate. This isn’t 47 Meters Down or The Shallows. Instead, this is more of a straight-up thriller in shark-infested waters. With barely any actual sharks within it, the tension of this low-budget thriller takes place mostly between its three main leads. These are victims on the high seas trying to outwit and outlast their opposing forces, despite the dangers that lurk below.
Although parts of the story take place on the mainland, the thrust of the action take place on Tucker’s boat itself. In that way, Animals becomes somewhat of an isolation thriller, keeping the action to its small rooms and tightly-knit corridors. However, Byrne makes good use of his limited spacing. Every room is used effectively, keeping the viewer engage as characters jockey for position amidst the shark-infested waters.
But the real fuel to the fire in Animals is a delightfully devilish Courtney, who is positively malevolent within the film. Courtney’s Tucker is every bit the brutal beast one wants in this sort of thriller. Stalking the young women of the beachfront area, his ultimate goal lies strictly with his own enjoyment of their bloody deaths. And Courtney simply eats insanity when given the opportunity. The film even contains a dance scene that highlights the character’s lack of humanity in the face of his own acts of violence. He’s unhinged, unlikable and very unforgiving. (You’ll never hear ‘Baby Shark’ quite the same way again.)
At the same time, Yellowstone’s Hassie Harrison serves as a suitable foil for Courtney’s violent vengeance. There’s a spirit to Harrison that makes her formidable, even in the face of overwhelming evil. No matter what Tucker throws at her, Zephyr seems to have an answer for his antics. (“You’ve got fight in you,” he growls.) In this way, Zephyr sets herself up against the traditional ‘thriller victim’. Her actions (mostly) make sense and she has the sensibilities necessary to survive. (What’s more, even though her man wants to rescue her, their relationship isn’t entirely one-sided.) She believes that she’s ‘better off on her own’ and, when backed into a corner, she bares her teeth.
And it’s that drive to survive that makes these two opponents worth watching.
Tucker knows that there’s something different about Zephyr. Like the sharks that he hunts, he knows that the two of them are loners with animal instincts. It’s the tension between these two adversaries that feels animalistic. They are the metaphorical animals in this film, circling one another in a battle for dominance. And neither is willing to concede.
Having said this though, it’s worth noting that there isn’t a lot that sets this film apart from other thrillers of this nature. While Animals is a fun ride, there are moments that play out with a heightened level of silliness. (For example, the film’s key track is ‘Ooby Dooby’ by CCR, a song that means something for these characters.) This isn’t a story with any real subtext or social commentary embedded within it. Instead, it’s meant to the sort of straight-forward thriller that makes for an entertaining date night. And, for the most part, the film stays afloat on this level.
In short, Dangerous Animals is a perfectly enjoyable, B-movie. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
As a result, Animals proves to be a film that still has teeth, even if it doesn’t quite have the bite that one expects. No, it doesn’t always make sense. But, backed by a delightful pairing in Harrison and Courtney, the film generally still manages to stay on course.
Dangerous Animals is available in theatres on Friday, June 6th, 2025.
