Dangerous Animals

Saw this at an unknown screening and when it announced the movie, everybody groaned. But that opening scene blew everyone away and hooked them in, such a good opener for a movie.

Went into this knowing absolutely nothing, and was pleasantly surprised. A really exhilarating film that mixes 10 Cloverfield Lane with Nicholas Cage's The Surfer, and I have to say it was a very fun watch. The main girls acting wasn't amazing but it was definitely believable, even if her character was a bit 1 noted. Where this definitely shines is the kidnapper, he does an amazing and terrifying job.

Definitely not a masterpiece but I really enjoyed it.

Sean Byrne's return to filmmaking is a stripped-back serial-killer thriller focused on a shark-obsessed boatman who kidnaps women and uses them as bait so that he can see "the greatest show on Earth" over and over again. Yes, 'Dangerous Animals (2025)' essentially the 'SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-)' episode, 'Clams (2002)', except Jai Courtney isn't a giant crab and he isn't only interested in getting back a dollar. Oh, and it's also mean and menacing and, in a general sense, scary. With crisp cinematography both above and beneath the waves, the feature carves its own unique place within the genre by having its killer make use of a very distinct - and very much alive - weapon. While its premise is inherently a little goofy, it handles it with enough sincerity that you buy it completely and are able to meet the narrative on its own terms. What ought to be silly instead becomes (mildly) scary, and the picture's tone remains pretty much perfect for its duration. The same is true of its pacing, which threatens to drag on occasion due to the plot's purposeful 'reeling in a fish' pacing but never actually does so. It's relatively compelling and features a number of suitably gnarly set-pieces, even if there's the sense that it's a tiny bit too tame overall (some of the shark attacks, in particular, are a little underwhelming, if potentially rather realistic). It's a little less insular than I initially expected, but it still relies on only a handful of performances and the isolation of its premise is enhanced because of it. The actors all do a really good job with the material. For instance, Courtney is capable of initially seemingly slightly creepy but not so creepy that you wouldn't get on a boat with him, then revealing himself to be an altogether different breed of creepy when his true desires and capacity for violence reveal themselves. Although the central romance is a little underdeveloped and overrelied on, Hassie Harrison and Josh Heuston sell their connection enough that you want to see it - and them - survive the stresses of the story. Harrison, in particular, is a strong final (and, almost, only) girl whose tenacity is potent enough that you believe she'd be able to overcome what she inevitably must overcome. Her final confrontation with her kidnapper is slightly disappointing due to its brisk duration and weak pre-kill quip, but it's fun to see her try to come out on top and get the best of the unhinged antagonist. This is just a really solid horror/ thriller with some exciting and suspenseful sequences, confident direction, compelling performances and gorgeously simple cinematography. It isn't particularly deep or complex, but it scratches a primal itch and it scratches it well. It's a solid slice of seaworthy pulp that should keep you entertained from beginning to end.

Australia's known for its deadly wildlife, but Dangerous Animals asks-what if the most dangerous predator was serial killer steve irwin? This sunlit survival horror follows Zephyr, an American surfer abducted by a shark-obsessed madman (a delightfully unhinged Jai Courtney) who feeds tourists to great whites as eco-reparations. It's a wild premise, but the relentless tension, grounded action, and unexpectedly emotional beats make it work. With beautiful real shark footage, clever set-ups and payoffs, and one of the gnarliest self-surgery scenes i've seen in a while, the film manages to be scary, ridiculous, and empowering all at once. A brutal, blood-soaked ride that somehow still finds time for a killer dance scene and a touch of heart.

I saw this film tonight as a mystery movie at Odeon and I gotta say it was better than expected. I saw the trailer before and it peaked my interest but it was more of a I'll wait til it's on demand to watch. I'm glad I did get to see it though. It was tense, Jai Courtney's character was brilliant and the lead I hadn't seen before but she did a great job. It's not the shark horror you'd expect and as someone who likes the original movie "Deep Blue Sea" (still one of the best shark movies) this one is a good little switch off from the real world that may be a little slow but it's still a fun ride.

I was not familiar with any of the 3 leads and found them all to be excellent. Hassie Harrison seems like a young slightly prettier Jennifer Lawrence and that is a huge compliment. Jai Courtney was terrific as the villain He delivered some great speeches and in one scene channeled his inner Buffalo Bill to great success. Josh Heuston was also new to me and he had great charm and elicited tons of empathy in his role. About 15 minutes in I was thinking, "OK, now what are they going to do with this setup." It seemed like it would be claustrophobic and limited with where it could go. Was I ever wrong. Kudos to Sean Byrne for a great script and solid direction that really kept he tension high. Most of you are going to see this when it lands on Shudder. I think it is not going to be as great as on a bigger screen for sure. I would have rated this higher, but an 8 and up film is somewhat exceptional. Comes very close, but I think I will have forgotten the film in a year or two and that kept my score a 7. Try to catch it at your theater if you can.