Deranged Animals' Revisits Perilous Waters Filled with Sharks, Delivering Overused Horror Fare
Horror, Once Again, by Sean Byrne
Sean Byrne sure knows how to make you feel uneasy. Sixteen years ago, this Aussie filmmaker kicked things off with "The Loved Ones," a brutal coming-of-age tale about a revenge-seeking teenager. Fast forward a decade, Byrne took a different approach with "The Devil's Candy," a psychological thriller about a heavy-metal-loving painter going insane. Now, Byrne's back, and he's plundered the territory of serial-killer thrillers and shark survival stories.
Unlike his previous films, "Dangerous Animals" doesn't deviate from the conventional narrative, focusing on a solitary surfer named Zephyr, who prefers the thrill of the ocean to the misery of life on land. An American living in a rundown van after years in foster homes, Zephyr stumbles upon Moses, a straight-laced, easy-going guy. But things take a dark turn when Zephyr gets snatched by Tucker, a creepy boat captain.
Faced with the unhinged Tucker, Zephyr finds herself captured and locked up on his boat off the Australian coast, sharing the misfortune with another victim, Heather. True to form, Tucker's interest isn't just in murder, but in creating macabre art from his victims. He takes delight in recording their final moments as sharks devour them.
Working from a script co-written by visual artist Nick Lepard, Byrne leans into the B-movie appeal. Tucker's old-school approach to recording his kills highlights the film's contemporary setting, even if its throwback, drive-in essence would've fit better in the era of "Jaws." The central tension revolves around Zephyr's struggle to escape or get help before Tucker prepares another nautical snuff film.
Sadly, "Dangerous Animals" disappoints with its predictable, underwhelming narrative. While it still delivers a dose of creepy vibes, it fails to deliver the subversive storytelling that marked Byrne's previous work. The shark-free focus on Tucker and his twisted fascinations hints at deeper themes but never truly explores them fully. Instead of transcending tropes, "Dangerous Animals" succumbs to them.
Hassie Harrison does well as Zephyr, showcasing both determination and loathing for the misogynist Tucker. Although the acting, effects, and tension keep things moving, Byrne can't save the film from its formulaic twists and potential. The movie's overt message about sharks being misunderstood pales in comparison to its unremarkable villain, Tucker, who seems more like an average stiff than a dangerous monster.
All in all, while "Dangerous Animals" offers some thrilling moments and well-crafted tension, it fails to live up to the chillingly poetic flights of Byrne's earlier work. Seine's dangerous animals may be lurking beneath the water's surface, but this time around, they're lacking the bite.
- Sean Byrne's latest movie, "Dangerous Animals," is set in Australia, contrasting with his previous films, which were predominantly based in Hollywood, the epicenter of entertainment in California.
- Despite its contemporary setting, "Dangerous Animals" evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 80s films like "Jaws," with its focus on an unhinged villain recording his kills on old-school technology.
- Byrne, known for his thought-provoking work in the horror genre, fails to deliver the same subversive storytelling in "Dangerous Animals," as the narrative takes a predictable turn, focusing on a solitary surfer and a dangerous boat captain.
- Los Angeles in California, known as the "Entertainment Capital of the World," might have provided a more fitting backdrop for a film with a drive-in appeal, as seen in "Dangerous Animals" but set in the contemporary cityscape of Los Angeles.
