Dangerous Animals (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – When Zephyr, a savvy and free-spirited surfer, is abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer and held captive on his boat, she must figure out how to escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below.

My Take – For sometime it seemed like Hollywood was intent on making Jai Courtney happen. However, despite starring in potential blockbusters like A Good Day to Die Hard (2013), Terminator: Genisys (2015), The Divergent Series (2014-2015) and both Suicide Squad installments, the Australian actor’s performances struggled to resonate, with only slight glimmers of his kooky potential visible here and there.

But who knew that playing a shark obsessed serial killer would finally get him the recognition he deserves? As this latest Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones, The Devil’s Candy) directorial allows Courtney to turn on the charm when needed and go full unhinged in a competent survival horror that benefits from its relentlessly tense atmosphere and its premise hook.

Written by Nick Lepard, what we have here is an unabashed popcorn flick that blends the serial killer genre with the terror of shark flicks, all the while managing to hit the expected genre beats and adding some wry humor into the mix.

Yes, it is formulaic and feels a little longer than it actually is, but the script is well-paced, throws a few welcome narrative curve balls into the proceedings, and the direction keeps the tension high throughout, climaxing with a truly barnstorming and crowd-pleasing finale. Led by two compelling leads and an effortlessly engaging villain turn by Jai Courtney, the final product is a welcome treat for anyone who loves horror thrillers, shark features, or are simply just looking for a good time.

Opening with a shocking prologue, the story mainly follows Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), an American free-spirited drifter living on Australia’s Gold Coast who is mostly focused on finding her next meal or catching her next wave. After being reluctantly dragged into helping a young real estate agent named Moses (Josh Heuston) with car issues, the two hit it off after discovering their shared love for surfing.

Following a passionate night with Moses, Zephyr drives in the early morning hours to catch a few waves at the beach, only to find herself getting abducted by eccentric boat captain Tucker (Jai Courtney), who after surviving a shark attack as a child has become obsessed with feeding young women to sharks and recording their final moments on videotape for his personal collection of snuff films.

Waking up to find herself chained to a cot in his ship alongside another girl Heather (Ella Newton), Zephyr is determined to fight her way out of this hopeless situation and use her willpower against Tucker’s sadistic ingenuity.

Here, Sean Byrne’s direction shines most in his ability to create tension from claustrophobic environments: the cramped quarters of Tucker’s boat, the blood-tinged ocean, and the ominous mechanical sound of the shark cage. The cinematography captures both the beauty and the dread of open water, with underwater shots that exploit the primal fear of the unseen lurking beneath.

However, Nick Lepard’s script leans heavily on genre conventions like the sadistic killer with a dark past, the resourceful final girl, the reluctant hero, and the inevitable showdown between predator and prey. No doubt, while these beats are executed competently, they offer little innovation.

As a result, the plot’s structure feels predictable, leaving few surprises for seasoned horror fans. Where the film actually excels is in its visceral moments. The film’s shark attack sequences are choreographed with stomach-turning realism. Though they are short lived and minimal, they are extremely effective.

It also helps that the performances are incredible. Jai Courtney is terrific as the killer out to prove that man is the most dangerous animal of all. Whether leading a threatening singalong of ‘Baby Shark’, barking like a dog (at an actual dog), or watching footage of a vicious shark attack while chomping his own fish dinner, Courtney is an absolute hoot playing with equal parts unhinged menace and pitch perfect comic timing, it’s great to see him really come into his own with a role like this one.

Hassie Harrison too brings a fierce yet grounded turn. She balances vulnerability with steely determination, making her both a sympathetic protagonist and a believable survivor. Harrison’s physical commitment—especially during the film’s numerous fight-or-flight sequences—anchors the narrative even when the script sometimes feels derivative.

Josh Heuston brings a likeable every man quality to the film. His earnestness and genuine concern for Zephyr provide a needed contrast to the film’s otherwise relentless menace. In her limited screen time, Ella Newton brings an abundance of charm and sympathy to her role. On the whole, ‘Dangerous Animals‘ is a sleek survival horror thriller with a manic premise and standout performances.