Thrilling Film Review: 'Dangerous Animals' Raises Stakes Beyond Shark Terror in Underwater Domain
Get ready for a pulse-pounding thrill ride as "Dangerous Animals" takes the terror of sharks and elevates it to a chilling new level, paying a clever nod to "Jaws" in its 50th anniversary year.
This edge-of-your-seat horror flick, premiering in theaters this summer, follows the twisted tale of Aussie boat captain Tucker. His favorite pastime? Serving up helpless women to sharks, all while delivering insightful monologues about makos, mosquitoes, or sailfish.
Enter our fearless antiheroine, American surf queen Zephyr, who embodies a fierce and independent spirit, preferring the freedom of the open road in her van and evading all ties to land. With her unique skill of picking locks using a bikini top's underwire and her knack for avoiding capture, she's the perfect prey for any serial killer.
Nick Lepard's screenplay is a muscle-bound masterpiece, pulsating with admiration for classic thriller films like "Jaws," "Point Break," "Hannibal," and even a splash of "Baby Shark." How did he come up with such a gripping story? A simple idea: visualizing a surfboard bag carrying a lifeless body. Talk about a dark imagination!
Director Sean Byrnes, who excels at building dread, constructs scenes that are sharp and engrossing, never crossing the line into exploitation. Filming took place on Queensland's Gold Coast, but the movie's terrifying depiction of shark cage diving may scare off eager tourists. After seeing "Dangerous Animals," even taking a shower feels like a dangerous plunge.
Throughout the film, Zephyr and Tucker engage in a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse. When he says he can't get enough of her feisty spirit, calling her a "fighter," she isn't shy about dubbing him "ocean scum" and shutting him up with her sharp tongue.
The film's soundtrack offers a winking nod to its intricate narrative. During one scene, Steve Wright's "Evie (Part One)" plays as Tucker creates mementos from his victims' hair – a chilling juxtaposition of beauty and brutality. Another tense moment perfectly pairs Etta James' "At Last" with the captor's final, horrifying grasp of his prey.
The film's setting aboard a boat in the vast Coral Sea provides a tantalizing new playground for fear. It's a claustrophobic universe where screams go unheard, and escape seems impossible. But Tucker isn't the only predator lurking on board; Vegemite has been weaponized in gruesome new ways.
As Tucker intensifies his pursuit of Zephyr, she finds solace in a dashing ice cream thief named Josh Heuston. Despite their undeniable chemistry, she resists his advances until she's snatched away by our resident villain. But as Tucker views their tryst as a game worthy of finishing, loyal Josh won't let her disappearance go unnoticed.
"Dangerous Animals" never tries to be more than it is, but it does showcase the resilience and adaptability of humans in the face of danger. As the film reminds us with stunning visuals of sharks gliding through the ocean, it's we, the humans, who are the real danger.
"Dangerous Animals," a deliciously disturbing contribution to the horror genre from IFC Films, is rated R for strong, graphic violence, explicit language, brief drug use, and intense horror sequences. With a runtime of 98 minutes, it will leave you shivering from start to finish. Three stars out of four – a must-watch for fans of pulse-pounding thrillers.
Behind the Scenes:A twisted take on the shark horror genre, "Dangerous Animals" boasts a nod to "Jaws" as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. This survival horror film, directed by Sean Byrne, follows Australian boat captain Tucker, who is actually a brutal serial killer. Tucker uses his boat to lure victims, some of whom end up as shark food.
Viewers can expect tense moments similar to those found in "Jaws" as victims are hunted by both sharks and a serial killer. In addition to similarities to "Jaws," "Dangerous Animals" incorporates elements from classic serial killer and survival horror movies. The film showcases Tucker's predatory nature and psychological manipulation, as well as the desperate attempts of his victims to escape.
As an added twist, Vegemite has been weaponized in unexpected ways, heightening the sense of danger on board the boat.
The premiere of "Dangerous Animals" in Toronto's cinemas this summer promises to deliver a chilling entertainment experience, offering a contemporary take on the shark-horror genre, akin to the renowned "Jaws". In this thrilling movie, court proceedings may unfold, as the news about the notorious Aussie boat captain Tucker's heinous crimes spreads, with his victims including those from the realms of movies-and-tv and entertainment.
