Dangerous Animals star fainted while shooting the year’s most shocking scene

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Sean Byrne, the director of “Dangerous Animals,” talks about filming this year’s most startling scene and shares that it left lead actress Hassie Harrison momentarily unconscious.

I can’t contain my excitement! The thrilling movie “Dangerous Animals” has just been released, and it’s a chilling blend of “Jaws” and “Longlegs”. It’s already earning rave reviews as one of the best horror films of the year. Can’t wait to watch it!

In our 4-star review of Dangerous Animals, we noted that Jai Courtney delivers an outstanding performance as the film’s psychopathic antagonist. Hassie Harrison’s portrayal of the final girl is truly impressive, and her actions in one pivotal scene are simply jaw-dropping – a moment you won’t forget all year.

In this conversation with director Sean Byrne, we delved into the film’s environmental message and how his portrayal of the villain was impacted by movies like Wolf Creek and Crocodile Dundee. As you proceed, beware: MAJOR SPOILERS lie ahead as he discusses a pivotal scene in the movie.

Dangerous Animals director on shooting shocking scene

Towards the climax of the film, the remaining protagonist, Zephyr (played by Hassie Harrison), finds herself bound in handcuffs. In a desperate bid for freedom, she attempts to remove her gloves in a manner reminiscent of Gerald’s Game.

When other methods fail, she resorts to an idea that seems implausible, carries it out, and in doing so, sustains a broken thumb and later amputates it herself, thus achieving her liberty.

Or more concisely: In desperate situations, she considers the extraordinary and acts upon it, leading to self-inflicted thumb injury and subsequent amputation, ultimately securing her release.

Watching that scene was quite intense, and when I mentioned to Byrne that I had closed my eyes for a large part of it, he shared that his cinematographer, Shelley Farthing-Dawe, finds it challenging as well. “Half the viewers shield their eyes,” Byrne notes, “while the other half can’t help but be drawn to it with delight.

Filming the scene felt almost as challenging, concedes Byrne. “It was tough,” he admits. “We were shooting it towards the end, and to create a great movie, everyone pours in all their effort. Hassie was drained, and I believe that was on our final day.

She’s got IV lines with her blood, and she was biting her finger hard at one point, which made me think she might have fainted. The place we’re working in is safe and well-ventilated, but it does get hot when we’re confined and doing intense work. Plus, she seems to be really focused psychologically.

I recall a scene where her eyes began rolling back, and I was struck by how incredible the performance was. Then, she seemed to become faint, all while holding her thumb in her mouth. This is one of my favorite movie moments because I find it inspiring, as it could have easily been portrayed as a horror trope. But what makes it so remarkable is her commitment; it’s not something that comes easily.

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2025-06-06 11:18