“Dangerous Animals” follows Zephyr, a surfer who must figure out a way to escape a shark-obsessed serial killer’s boat before being fed to the fish below.

A Fresh Take on Shark Horror

Sharks are my favorite animals. Horror is my favorite genre. Sometimes a movie is just made for you… and that is what “Dangerous Animals” is to me. The film mixes two horror subgenres into one, combining a serial killer storyline with the so-called “flesh-eaters.”

Do we have a new shark classic on our hands? From what my gut understands… it’s a definitive yes.

Let’s talk about the sharks. “Dangerous Animals” is one of the first horror movies to make a true attempt at getting these creatures right. Rather than portraying them as the villain, it’s actually sympathetic. While this approach may result in fewer bloodbaths, it earned my respect. The most misunderstood animals in the world still get to shine here, just in a much different way than you’re used to seeing.

Standout Performance Elevates the Story

Playing Tucker, Jai Courtney is absolutely electric. From beginning to end, he steals the show every time that he is onscreen. His line delivery is sharp, delivering monologue after monologue in gripping fashion. 

His truly menacing presence is what allows “Dangerous Animals” to succeed.

Hassie Harrison as Zephyr and Josh Heuston as Moses play the other two leads. While their intertwined storyline isn’t as compelling, they get the job done. These two characters account for most of “Dangerous Animals”‘ emotional moments. While it doesn’t always land, Harrison and Heuston do just enough to pull it together.

Diving Deep into Fear and Fascination

“Dangerous Animals” plays out more as a character study than anything else. There are dramatic and carnage-filled moments, but it’s mostly an examination of trauma, fear and masculinity. At surface level, the film is fairly straightforward. However, looking closer at the main antagonist and the animals below, it does have a lot to say.

On top of this, the film is undoubtedly funny in moments. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, with a plethora of memorable monologues and one-liners still echoing in my head.

We’ve seen shark movies done (usually poorly) many times before. “Dangerous Animals” is different. It flips the genre on its head, making you respect the animals while being horrified by the human monster above the water. The gripping performance from Courtney and the portrayal of sharks make this a must-see. It’s refreshing to see a horror movie go in such a different direction and attempt something truly unique.

Rating: 5 out of 5