Dangerous Animals (2025) - 4K Ultra HD Assessment

      **Dangerous Animals, 2025.**

      Directed by Sean Byrne.

      Featuring Hassie Harrison, Jai Courtney, Josh Heuston, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke, Rob Carlton.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      A serial killer uses sharks as his preferred weapon and kidnaps a clever surfer who must rely on her instincts to escape. When can a shark film be considered not a shark film? It happens when the main antagonist is not a fish. Dangerous Animals marks director Sean Byrne's return a decade after his acclaimed horror film The Devil’s Candy. He merges classic filmmaking with a combination of a shark movie and a serial killer thriller, crafting a genre piece that entertains rather than pushes boundaries, which feels refreshing in today’s landscape.

      Dangerous Animals does feature some inventive concepts; after all, while machetes, kitchen knives, and razor gloves are commonly used, no one has previously made sharks the primary weapon (with the exception of a few Bond villains from the 1970s). However, the slasher movie format feels quite straightforward, and the survival thriller narrative doesn’t delve into meta territory, remaining uncomplicated. Additionally, the cast and their characters are enjoyable to watch rather than irritating.

      Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) is a free-spirited, determined surfer who lives in a van and aspires to ride the waves. Following an unexpected encounter with Moses (Josh Heuston) at a convenience store, they head to his place for some fun, but Zephyr vanishes at dawn to catch the morning surf, disappointing Moses, who then embarks on a search for her.

      Regrettably, Zephyr is abducted by Tucker (Jai Courtney), a serial killer who ensnares his victims by promoting shark cage dives, later offering them to the sharks from his boat. He’s convinced that sharks are underwater deities after surviving an attack as a child. Will Moses reach Zephyr before she is hoisted into the water by the shark-obsessed madman?

      While Dangerous Animals isn’t flawless, answering this question reveals the film's most significant drawback: its pacing. It’s evident that Moses will locate Zephyr to set the stage for the climactic confrontation with the killer, which is the conventional expectation in slasher films, but this event occurs far too early, leaving excessive gaps to fill before the movie should ideally conclude. The false promise of slasher climaxes is repeated at least twice too many times.

      Nevertheless, such criticism isn’t the worst this film could face, and fortunately, the overall craftsmanship is strong enough that the overly extended runtime becomes a minor concern. The visuals are captivating, showcasing stunning drone footage of the Australian coastline, and the underwater cinematography is exceptional. Despite some CGI blood, it never detracts from the immersive experience.

      On the subject of immersion, Jai Courtney excels as the serial killer, portraying Tucker with plenty of Australian charisma while always teetering on the brink of menace. He carries the film without resorting to full pantomime villainy; the script provides just enough of his background to justify his actions without excessive elaboration or attempts to elicit sympathy—he remains a cold-blooded killer with a dark sense of humor and a unique method for dispatching his victims.

      Conversely, Zephyr is a rather serious character, played straight by Hassie Harrison. However, this portrayal is crucial for maintaining the sense of urgency and determination, establishing her as a strong contender for one of the best modern final girls, displaying quick wit, intelligence, and resourcefulness that align with the limited details provided about her—making her believable without requiring excessive exposition. The only downside to her character is her relationship with Moses, who comes off as somewhat arrogant and is the least compelling of the three leads. Nevertheless, given that she left him after a brief encounter, and his infatuation leads him back into the story, it culminates in a way that feels adequate, though one character’s fate is less impactful than that of the others.

      So, with one or two minor concerns aside, Dangerous Animals stands as a creature feature with the somewhat flimsy question of ‘who is the real dangerous animal?’ (a clever twist). It’s evident that it was created by someone determined to craft an engaging and tense horror/thriller in the traditional sense—horrific and thrilling without being preachy or force-feeding socio-political messages. Jai Courtney has never been more captivating and enjoyable to watch, the action—whether involving sharks or not—is intense and realistically choreographed, ensuring every punch and stab is felt, and the opening scene featuring two unsuspecting tourists in a shark cage is the best opening of any shark film besides Jaws. Additionally, the thrilling mayhem is enhanced by a powerful score from Michael Yezerski that transforms what is already solid B-movie action into explosive, dynamic excitement. If you seek pure escapist entertainment, Dangerous Animals