Dangerous Animals
With Jaws approaching its 50th anniversary, it’s tempting to watch any film in the microgenre with an expectation of disappointment, convinced nothing can rival Spielberg’s classic. But Dangerous Animals, Sean Byrne’s third feature, wisely doesn’t try. Instead, it charts its own course, swimming in a very different current. It quickly becomes clear that the “dangerous animal” of the title isn’t a great white, but Tucker (Jai Courtney) – a shark attack survivor turned homicidal maniac who lures tourists into shark-infested waters for the twisted thrill of feeding them to his sea-dwelling idols. He runs a cage diving business from his boat, but soon turns the tables by imprisoning his clients in the vessel’s basement, strapping them into harnesses, and ritualistically offering them to the depths. Among those trapped is Zephyr (Harrison), the film’s determined final girl, who must fight for survival aboard Tucker’s floating prison. It’s both cheesy and grotesque – and Byrne leans into it with unflinching glee.
Courtney’s Tucker is a larger-than-life presence – hulking, cheerful and deranged – but he’s weighed down by an unrealistic sense of invincibility. He barely flinches when stabbed or bludgeoned, and the stakes begin to feel oddly low when nothing seems capable of harming him. He’s an apex predator – not because of the sharks, but because the script refuses to let him bleed.
Perhaps as a nod to Spielberg’s vision, Byrne keeps the mighty predator mostly off-screen. Instead, we get ominous swirling waters, bubbling metal cages, and a menacing score that carries much of the suspense. The tension builds effectively – there are plenty of teeth-clenching moments – but shark enthusiasts may feel short-changed. Dangerous Animals is less a creature feature than a slasher flick with a marine twist. That said, Byrne doesn’t hold back on the gore: limbs are torn apart, torsos shredded and left drifting at sea, and the aftermath of the attacks is shown in graphic, unsparing detail.
Still, with summer on the horizon, this proves to be an undeniably entertaining watch. Harrison’s Zephyr stands out as a scrappy and resourceful final girl, and the tight 93-minute runtime keeps the pace brisk, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.
Christina Yang
Dangerous Animals does not have a release date yet.
Read more reviews from our Cannes Film Festival coverage here.
For further information about the event visit the Cannes Film Festival website here.
Watch the trailer for Dangerous Animals here:
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