Jai Courtney Claims His Serial Killer Is Spiritually Connected to Sharks

Russ Milheim from TopMob attended the grand opening of Shudder and IFC’s chilling horror film, “Dangerous Animals,” on the Los Angeles red carpet. There, he had an engaging conversation with lead actor Jai Courtney and other cast members about their distinctive serial killer narrative. The movie revolves around Courtney’s character, Tucker, who poses as a shark cage diving instructor but in reality is a serial killer with a twisted hobby of feeding the local sharks in a particularly gruesome manner.

Jai Courtney on His Serial Killer’s Shark Connection

“He Feels Like He’s Connected to the Shark on a Spiritual Level.”

In “Dangerous Animals”, it’s Jai Courtney who takes on the chilling role of Tucker, a character who, remarkably, doubles as both a dangerous individual (or predator, if you prefer) and a serial killer. While maintaining his day job, he has an unusual hobby: he lures clients into the deep sea, only to feed them to sharks and meticulously record their tragic endings on film.

TopMob: “You really dial it up to 11 in this film, playing such a unique serial killer. Can you explain why Tucker has chosen sharks as his murderous tool, and how that plays into just the thematic core in this movie?”

Jai Courtney: Essentially, he seems to feel a profound spiritual bond with the shark. In some way, this connection has led him to believe that, being one with the shark, it’s his responsibility to maintain balance in the ecosystem. He argues that predators play a crucial role in everything…
As a film enthusiast, I ponder: If apex predators like myself were absent, the ecosystem would be disrupted, and smaller creatures might dominate, leading to chaos. In essence, I consider myself part of that elite group, even if it sounds eccentric. After all, this perspective is deeply ingrained within me.
There seems to be a deep-seated apprehension hidden within him that we only hint at, yet I believe it’s evident in the essence of this character. However, I firmly believe he wholeheartedly supports his cause. This is an intriguing starting point for exploration.

Hassie Harrison on Preparing Her Whole Life With Shark Week

“I Have Been Watching Shark Week Since I Was a Teenager…”

In the series “Dangerous Animals“, Hassie Harrison portrays Zephyr, a local surfer who unexpectedly finds herself among Tucker’s abducted victims, waiting for a grim destiny. Fortunately, she demonstrates a fighting spirit that leaves her captor taken aback.

TopMob: “You spent a lot of time around sharks now and thinking about sharks. So what is the most interesting or surprising fact you learned about them on your time with this production?”

Hassie Harrison: Gosh, I’m not entirely certain. You see, I’ve been watching Shark Week since my teenage years, so I wasn’t exactly discovering new facts about them when I arrived. However, it’s clear that my admiration and affection for sharks have endured… They play a crucial role in the ecosystem, after all.

TopMob: “You play Zephyr, and you’re thrown into kind of an intensely interesting death trap on the water in this film. Can you talk about how awesome it was to be able to navigate such an interesting horror scenario? After all, it’s not your usual slasher setting. You were given just this really unique playground.”

Harrison: What makes this film exciting is its unique, innovative spin on the popular shark genre. I believe it offers an enjoyable journey that many will appreciate and enjoy the experience.

Regarding the role he plays in the movie as Moses, Josh Heuston offered some insight into what it’s like to embody a character who consistently charges towards peril while viewers implore him to retreat.

Josh Heuston: Playing the game is enjoyable. To put it simply, you could say it involves accompanying Moses as he approaches his doom. However, the act of playing the game itself remains enjoyable.

Director of Dangerous Animals on Tackling the Big Misconception About Sharks

“There’s Less Than 10 Shark Deaths Per Year…”

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but share my excitement over Sean Bryne, the visionary director behind “Dangerous Animals,” shedding light on the misconceptions surrounding sharks during an insightful interview with TopMob. His compelling narrative was deeply influenced by these misunderstandings, shaping many aspects of his latest masterpiece.

TopMob: “You’ve now spent a lot of time around sharks prepping for this movie and learning about them. What’s the most interesting or surprising fact that you’ve learned?”

Sean Bryne: It’s often thought that sharks pose a significant threat to us, but this idea is more of a myth. Despite what movies like ‘Jaws’ may have suggested, they actually did a disservice to sharks. In reality, there are fewer than 10 human deaths caused by sharks annually, and these incidents are usually due to misunderstandings. What drew me most to the film was the opportunity to debunk this long-standing, unfair perception that portrays sharks as villains. On the contrary, we humans inflict more harm on them than they do on us.

TopMob: “In this film, you’ve really done an interesting thing with how you’re leveraging everyone’s fear of sharks and employing that in a very unexpected narrative, with a serial killer who utilizes that. Can you just talk about how you wanted to utilize that fear within this surprising vehicle?”

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, let me express it this way: “In essence, this movie is primarily a chilling tale of a serial killer, with the sharks serving as deadly tools. They seem to appear only when Tucker stirs up the water, and their presence is orchestrated by human hands. I wanted to remain faithful to the fact that this is fundamentally a serial killer story. While there’s ample destruction caused by the sharks, it’s essential to remember that they are being manipulated.

TopMob: ” How do you think this is going to affect people’s view of sharks? I hope it’s better than what people do with ‘Jaws’ and ‘The Shallows?’

Bryne: I certainly hope that’s the impression people get. Essentially, I believe one of the main messages is: These creatures are truly majestic! They can instill fear, especially when you’re in a shark cage, but the experience transcends fear. When you step back and observe them, they are breathtakingly beautiful, and they pose no real threat to us.

Dangerous Animals Composer on Avoiding Similarities to Jaws

“We Started Building the World From Scratch…”

In a challenging scenario, as the thought of sharks instantly conjures images of the iconic “Jaws” theme, it was Michael Yezerski who took up the task of creating tension at sea.

TopMob: There is that really iconic score with ‘Jaws’ and sharks, and so, obviously, you do a shark movie, you go, Okay, let’s do everything that’s not that. So, how did you work around making sure you didn’t quite invoke that? Or if you did it purposely and [tried] to reverse it?

Michael Yezerski: Absolutely, not at all intentionally. In fact, John Williams is my idol, the very person who inspired me to become a film composer. He’s been my inspiration for years, and I’ve often shared that he’s the reason behind my career choice. One of my favorite scores of all time is indeed his work…
Instead of fleeing from or charging towards the shark in this instance, we chose a different approach. We set it aside and began constructing an entirely new world. Specifically, we pondered over how to generate distinct, unique sounds for each scene – sounds that would elicit maximum fear in every moment.
Instead of a string orchestra, we used metal, drums, and wooden instruments. To intensify the experience, we fed our analog synths through extreme distortion. Essentially, we aimed to create a sensation that leaves the audience gasping for breath at every turn.

TopMob: “Obviously, sharks are such a big focus, but like we’ve talked about, man, is [the real] threat. How did you weave that into the score itself? And, you know, making that more apparent than when the sharks are on screen?”

Michael Yezerski: Essentially, what you’re seeing is a deeply humanistic score. Each character has their unique melody, and these themes are evident from the film’s start. As the characters progress through their individual journeys, these themes evolve and transform. One character’s theme becomes more victorious, while another’s becomes less so. Without spoiling anything, it’s a tale that deeply resonates with human experiences.

The full video interviews can be seen here:

Dangerous Animals releases in theaters on June 6, 2025

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