Directed by: Sean Byrne
Written by: Nick Lepard
Run Time: 1 hour 38 minutes

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For five decades shark films have been trying to recreate the success of cinema’s apex predator, Jaws (1975). And despite the waves of titles that have tried, few, if any, have come close to the calibre of the original summer blockbuster. The latest to dip its toes into cinema’s shark-infested shorelines is Sean Byrne’s Dangerous Animals, but arriving just before the 50th anniversary of Spielberg’s masterpiece sees it immediately swimming against the strongest of cinematic currents.

Byrne’s film follows Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), a talented but reclusive surfer who is abducted by deranged, shark-obsessed serial killer, Tucker (Jai Courtney) and held captive on his boat. Imprisoned in the middle of the ocean and realising Tucker’s sinister plan to feed her to the sharks, Zephyr must do all she can to escape her floating prison and avoid becoming fish food.

It’s this intriguing combination of thriller subgenres – shark and serial killer – that gives Dangerous Animals such a distinct edge over the countless creature features that have come before it. Grounding it in the realms of reality is a help too, offering a much needed antidote to the stream of sci-fi shark thrillers that plagued much of the previous decade. Although, aficionados of the genre will notice some similarities between its concept and that of Shark Night 3D (2011), but its setup is unique, and most crucially, fun enough to excuse any overlap.

Rather than have the film’s predominant threat be a ginormous great white shark, Nick Lepard’s screenplay makes the inspired decision to instead assign a human antagonist, in this instance Jai Courtney’s utterly unhinged Tucker. Courtney affords this character an imposing physicality and an unnerving sense of unpredictability. The power behind his movements gives the film’s moments of action a momentum that resembles a shark’s dorsal fin cutting through the water’s surface as it charges towards its prey. Coupled with the film’s aggressive sound design he becomes a force of nature just as scary as the sharks circling below.

With Hassie Harrison as Zephyr though, he’s met his match. “You’re a fighter. I love fighters, makes for a better show,” he menacingly declares. And what a show she gives us. Zephyr is the kind of tough, capable protagonist that isn’t going to just sit back and accept her fate. Rather, she fights tooth and nail to make it out alive. Harrison is perfect for this kind of role, providing Zephyr the courage she needs to stand up to Tucker in a convincing way. She gives Zephyr a fighting chance and makes Dangerous Animals just as thrilling above water as it is under it.

And this really is a cinematic cross-breed, offering plenty of intense shark-attack sequences but also ample action aboard Tucker’s boat. No matter which predators the characters are attempting to evade – animal or anthropoid alike – it’s a thrilling watch, and the twofold threat only heightens the tension and excitement. Of course there are moments where suspension of disbelief will be required, but those who enjoy these type of genre flicks should be more than willing to indulge the more unbelievable elements of this aquatic adventure.

After all when viewed alongside the sea of shark films that have surfaced in the wake of Jaws, in concept alone it stands out significantly. Doubling down by executing this killer concept with confidence and just the right dose of camp, Dangerous Animals dares to dive straight into the subgenre’s deep end, and lives to tell the tale.

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Star Rating: ★ ★ ★

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