Earlier this summer, IFC Films and Shudder unleashed Dangerous Animals in theaters. It has since landed on Shudder’s streaming service. As a fan of both horror movies and sharks, I was automatically interested.
Warning Spoilers
The film centers on a serial killer (Jai Courtney) with a unique M.O., who likes to feed women to sharks. The women are taken prisoner and kept chained in a room on his boat until he’s ready to feed his need.
The first woman we see taken is one who had signed up for a shark dive. Unfortunately, her trip takes a sinister turn as soon as the dive is over. We are then introduced to Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), a surfer chick who has had a rough life that has made her a bit jaded. She meets a handsome young man, Moses (Josh Heuston). After one night of bliss, Zephyr flees to surf. However, she’s soon taken by Bruce (that’s a nice nod to Jaws). Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for Zephyr to see the other woman strung up and slowly fed to sharks. But Bruce has no idea that he has just met his match.
When Moses sees Zephyr’s van being towed and part of her surfboard discovered, he sets out on a mission to find her. And he does, but Bruce is far more of a challenge than you’d guess. Soon, the two are in a fight for their lives, and Zaphyr isn’t giving up.
What we get is a brutal, bloody, and twisted battle of wits and determination. Courtney, who plays the killer Bruce, nailed his role hard. He’s scary good! It couldn’t have been played any better. He’s so tough and so creepy in so many ways, especially in the dancing scene. And the way he sees the sharks, as god, powerful.
As for Hassie Harrison’s Zephyr, the character makes for a killer final girl, one of the best I have seen in a long time. The lengths her character went to escape are insane. It shows just how tough she is, and damn it, I liked it! I get so tired of weak female characters that are all looks and nothing else. Zephyr is what this genre needs more of. Bravo.
I have to give props to writer Nick Lepard for creating such a gripping and twisted story. And director Sean Byrne delivers a great film. The casting, effects, and pretty much everything were on point. I am genuinely impressed. In fact, I think I’ll watch it again right now. You can watch it too; it’s on Shudder.
