‘Dangerous Animals’ Takes Shark Horror to New Level

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Sean Byrne’s “Dangerous Animals” wastes no time setting up its diabolical premise.

On their vacation, an amiable pair encounters a cunning boat captain named Bruce Tucker (Jai Courtney). The private boat journey initially seems delightful, with the prospect of lowering the couple into a cage for a thrilling shark encounter. However, just a few minutes into the trip, the situation takes an ominous turn.

Instead of merely allowing those wide-eyed travelers to observe the sharks from afar, Tucker plans to stir up excitement by throwing bait in the water with them. Following some time and the appearance of the title card, we encounter a new couple who, unfortunately, cross paths with Tucker at the most inconvenient moment.

The overly dramatic presentation seems to undermine its brutal nature. The title “Dangerous Animals” might appear absurd, yet surprisingly, the narrative style bears a resemblance to that of the film “The Vanishing” (1988), albeit in a less refined manner.

Indeed, “The Vanishing” excels in creating an atmosphere of subtle tension and unendurable suspense, whereas “Dangerous Animals” challenges its viewers to resist looking as the scenes unfold where prey is consumed brutally on-screen.

For anyone who thought “Wolf Creek” (2005) was too subtle and needed sharks, here’s your movie.

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In my opinion, Hassie Harrison and Josh Heuston deliver standout performances that truly shine as the main characters. It’s not hard to imagine them rising to fame and becoming well-known actors within the next couple of years – their talent is undeniably evident in this production.

In my perspective, I found myself invested in the characters’ fates, unlike the disposable teenagers often seen in horror movies. The performers exuded a genuine cinematic charm that made them truly captivating.

As a film enthusiast, I must say that Courtney’s performance is truly something to behold! After failing to make an impact in “Die Hard” and “Terminator” sequels, his character, Bruce Tucker (a clever nod to the iconic “Jaws”), masterfully balances between being a hilariously over-the-top alpha male and a grotesque caricature.

If this film helps steer Courtney’s acting career towards more engaging characters like this one, then we’re in store for something delightful.

Byrne’s actions are restless, frequently mirroring Courtney’s performance, yet they sometimes divert attention away from the repetitiveness of the narrative, although they never completely overshadow it.

Near the finale, Tucker takes on a likeness to Jack Torrance from “The Shining” (1980), yet without any depth or insightful background. Regrettably, as his outlandish and intricate crimes approach, there’s no context provided to justify them – a backstory that becomes increasingly crucial and conspicuously absent.

Why?

As a cinephile, I find myself questioning whether it was prudent not to delve into the backstory of the antagonist or offer any psychiatric analysis, given that his methods are preposterously comical and reminiscent of caricatured madness.

Despite the exceptional acting abilities shown by these performers and the masterful storytelling by Byrne, nothing they portrayed ever fully convinced me that such events could occur in reality.

Given the prevalence of monitoring and the ease with which unusual activities are recorded and shared online, it appears highly unlikely, bordering on impossible, that our perpetrator is able to commit such overt, flamboyant, and public crimes without being caught.

In the context of the 20th century, Tucker’s blatant recklessness and attention-seeking behavior, tinged with his ill intentions, might seem plausible. However, given that we’re dealing with a world equipped with cell phones, it’s less likely for such open displays to occur due to the ease of documenting and reporting such actions.

There’s just no way any of this is possible.

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Even though I think Jigsaw’s elaborate trap could be convincing, Tucker’s actions seem too questionable to me. When you consider all the instances of his criminal activity, it becomes harder for me to suspend my disbelief and follow along with the story’s intended direction.

Also, wouldn’t the lack of good Yelp reviews keep tourists away?

1975’s “Jaws” stands as the ultimate shark horror classic, while “Deep Blue Sea” (1999) has maintained a strong cult fanbase. However, when it comes to low-budget shark stories, “Open Water” (2004) remains unrivaled in its impact.

The main takeaway is clear: stay away from sharks. In other words, “Animals That Pose a Threat”? Consider it done.

Two and a Half Stars (out of four)

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2025-06-06 02:03