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Intense Australian horror Dangerous Animals is a serial killer movie like you’ve never seen

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The illustrious Cannes Film Festival is the place where future Oscar winners are nurtured (like Anora and Parasite), esteemed filmmakers introduce their newest creations (such as Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest this year) and this year, it will also showcase a horror movie about an obsessive serial killer with a fascination for sharks.

Sean Byrne, the Australian director, delivers once more with his third film titled “Dangerous Animals”. His past creations – “The Loved Ones” (2009) and “The Devil’s Candy” (2015) – were both highly praised by critics and adored by horror enthusiasts. Rest assured, he has met the challenge and proven his skill yet again, even before the title appears on screen.

The film starts by showing Heather (Ella Newton) and Greg (Liam Greinke), two backpackers, discovering Tucker’s Experience, a place advertising a thrilling encounter with sharks. However, they are unaware of how true that promise is, as Greg meets an untimely end at the hands of Tucker (Jai Courtney) shortly after their experience. What follows is Tucker throwing Greg into the water, allowing the sharks to feast on him.

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As a gamer, I can honestly say that “Dangerous Animals” hooks you right from the start with Courtney’s outstanding performance – one of his finest yet! He skillfully navigates the thin divide between charming and menacing, delivering both dry humor and bone-chilling chills. Even before the horrifying scenes unfold, where Tucker shows his gruesome methods, I found myself invested in the character, left eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.

Tucker is an exceptional type of horror antagonist who leaves you both repulsed and entertained. He’s a ruthless killer who takes pleasure in dining on the video evidence of his past victims’ demise, yet exhibits an oddly endearing quirk by dancing around half-naked while sipping wine from a bottle, clad in a kimono.

In the world of Dangerous Animals, it’s not Heather (I apologize, Heather), but the nomadic surfer Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) who takes center stage. Zephyr is kidnapped by Tucker and taken aboard. Right off the bat, you can tell Zephyr’s storyline; she’s a woman who finds no purpose on land but feels completely free at sea. So, it’s obvious that she’ll discover a reason to keep going.

Harrison’s captivating portrayal adds layers to the character Zephyr, making it just as delightful to watch her on screen as Tucker, and at the same time, rooting for her survival. It’s a quintessential Final Girl performance, complete with a gruesome scene involving her thumb that may be too intense for the faint-hearted.

In addition to its many startling scenes, the movie “Dangerous Animals” doesn’t mince words about the gruesome aspect of Tucker’s approach to killing. Byrne doesn’t flinch from depicting this method, which involves using a crane to gradually lower victims into the ocean for the sharks beneath. This technique is both chilling and groundbreaking as a horror filmmaking tool. When Zephyr finds himself in danger, these scenes are particularly intense to behold.

Unlike films like “Jaws” where sharks are portrayed as monsters, this movie makes it clear that Tucker is the true antagonist, not the sharks themselves. The director aimed to dispel the misconception about sharks being dangerous, even though the film may not completely achieve this goal, its use of real-life footage of sharks does present them in a less frightening light.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit that things in Dangerous Animals start getting pretty over-the-top as we reach the climax, but by then, this game has earned my trust and engagement so thoroughly that I’m more than willing to strap myself in for the wild, unpredictable journey ahead.

It’s quite unlike any serial killer horror you’ve seen.

Dangerous Animals is released in UK and Ireland cinemas on 6 June.

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2025-05-17 22:19

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