‘Dangerous Animals’ Review: A Great, White-Knuckle Horror Movie Featuring a Shark-Obsessed Serial Killer

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In a chilling twist, the Australian series “Dangerous Animals” presents a terrifying antagonist who uses sharks as his deadly tool. What makes this concept particularly unsettling is that many people can avoid being attacked by these toothy predators merely by staying away from water known to be inhabited by them. However, picture yourself going about your day, unaware of the danger lurking, only to find yourself unconscious, bound and dragged out to sea. There, a sadistic individual hovers you over shark-infested waters while filming the whole ordeal on VHS for his private collection of snuff films.

Credit for these intense, unsettling scenes goes to screenwriter Nick Lepard. Director Sean Byrne delivers them with such force and precision in “The Devil’s Candy” that it leaves little room for tranquility, even as the audience might wonder about the true extent of its bizarre plotline. Unlike other horror films that keep the psychopath hidden, “Dangerous Animals” introduces the suspicious tour guide Bruce Tucker (played by Jai Courtney) early on. We see him speeding through town in a rundown pickup truck, displaying his predatory nature. Unaware of the danger lurking nearby, an American couple standing beside his boat cannot sense the threat that he poses.

Undeterred by the athletic guide who organized the adventure, robust Tucker audaciously flirts with one member of an adrenaline-fueled American duo eager to encounter sharks (safely enclosed within a submerged cage). Without the barriers, only a fraction of this woman would remain in the vessel’s trail. Tucker derives nearly sensual pleasure from providing live prey for these ancient predators, which vary in form and dimension, including a Great White so colossal, it might be reciting lines from the poster of the highest-grossing shark film ever made.

The iconic filmmasterpiece by Steven Spielberg, often copied by many, stands out uniquely as “Dangerous Animals” – more akin to the intense horror of “Saw” rather than the suspenseful terror of “Jaws”. This film is marked predominantly by the malevolent nature of its human antagonist. While the title undeniably refers to characters like Tucker and the sharks he associates with, it could equally apply to his next intended victim, the tough-skinned loner Zephyr (portrayed by Hassie Harrison from “Yellowstone”). Zephyr bears a resemblance to a young Jennifer Lawrence and carries an aura of risky underestimation similar to that associated with Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games”.

In her youth, Zephyr was moved around various foster families, and since then she’s chosen solitude over society, dedicating herself to chasing the world’s most remarkable waves. Her devotion led her to Australia, but Zephyr avoids interacting with locals. As the story unfolds, Tucker’s darkness hasn’t been fully unveiled yet, but his suspicious behavior has raised Zephyr’s caution toward unknown individuals. It’s this wariness that catches Moses (played by Josh Heuston) attention, who sees it as a challenge after observing her shoplifting in town.

In their brief encounters, the mood of “Dangerous Animals” shifts significantly, taking on a tone reminiscent of shows on The CW. The actors are strikingly good-looking and their playful banter is adorable yet hard to believe (Moses prepares pancakes the morning after their first meeting, while Zephyr shyly responds with flirtatious glances), but these moments will prove crucial later when Tucker kidnaps Zephyr. This is because the film is clever enough to make us empathize with those whom Tucker is tormenting.

In the past, when Courtney made his debut in movies such as “Jack Reacher” and “Die Hard With a Vengeance,” he portrayed a robust young actor reminiscent of a burly security guard standing outside a New York nightclub, arms crossed. Over time, he’s grown even more muscular, with the Courtney depicted here being so large that he could easily consume a bouncer in a single gulp. This implies that one cannot defeat someone like this by using brute force; instead, you must outwit him. However, Zephyr finds herself in a challenging situation as Courtney has limited her options, confining her to a steel bed within a locked cabin on his boat using handcuffs.

In no instant does Lepard’s script portray Zephyr as merely a damsel in distress; instead, it acknowledges that our involvement would be heightened if Moses intervenes with the clear intention of rescuing her, but ends up getting captured, bound, and becoming another one of Tucker’s toys. Despite the grimy exploitation movie vibe this narrative might give off, “Dangerous Animals” is surprisingly polished and artistic in its presentation. Byrne consistently arranges scenes to imply that these animalistic acts are happening near civilized society (party boats and resorts are just a stone’s throw away), but rather than offering hope, the music overpowers the cries for help.

Kudos to the set designer, who managed to make Tucker’s ship appear as a grisly floating slaughterhouse. Upon its sturdy walls, Zephyr discovers the names of past victims etched into the paint. In other parts, Tucker maintains a cabinet full of approximately 40 video tapes, each marked with a name and a strand of hair. In “Dangerous Animals,” we don’t need to witness this villain slaughtering numerous girls to grasp the horror – instead, it’s far more chilling to fill in the blanks based on limited hints. Be warned, someone will be the next victim before the end of this movie, and it won’t be the shark.

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2025-05-17 23:16