Dangerous Animals (2025)

 Dangerous Animals (2025) is a gripping Australian horror-thriller from director Sean Byrne (The Loved Ones, The Devil’s Candy). It premiered in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and is in theaters now.

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🎬 Plot & Setting

• Premise: Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), a free-spirited American surfer, is kidnapped by Tucker (Jai Courtney), a shark-obsessed serial killer. He takes her aboard his isolated boat off Queensland’s Gold Coast, feeding victims to circling sharks while recording it as snuff horror. reddit.com+15washingtonpost.com+15discussingfilm.net+15

• Tone: A chilling blend—part psychological cat-and-mouse slasher akin to Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Saw, part aquatic horror with keen tension building. gamesradar.com+3polygon.com+3discussingfilm.net+3

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⭐ Cast & Performances

• Hassie Harrison delivers a standout “Final Girl” performance, bringing physicality, resilience, and emotional depth to Zephyr, despite enduring actual stunt hardships like hypothermia. polygon.com+11mysanantonio.com+11discussingfilm.net+11

• Jai Courtney plays Tucker with unnerving charm and unpredictability—critics call it his best villain turn, providing a charismatic yet terrifying presence. youtube.com+7washingtonpost.com+7evolutionmusicpartners.com+7

🎥 Direction, Style & Themes

• Byrne’s direction is tightly controlled: he favors practical effects, atmospheric tension, and real shark footage over flashy CGI. This gives the film visceral dread and echoes the suspense of classic Jaws, while shifting the real threat onto human evil. rogerebert.com+4gamesradar.com+4decider.com+4

• Cinematography by Shelley Farthing‑Dawe accentuates the eerie contrast between beautiful ocean vistas and claustrophobic terror aboard the boat. impawards.com+15washingtonpost.com+15discussingfilm.net+15

• Writer Nick Lepard’s script emphasizes survival stakes and psychological warfare more than plot twists—a blueprint that filmmakers elevate with strong performances and tension. rottentomatoes.com+3discussingfilm.net+3apnews.com+3

📊 Reception & Ratings

• Rotten Tomatoes: 83% critics' score, 74% audience score. Praise centers on its fresh shark‑slasher mashup and Courtney’s performance. rottentomatoes.com

• AP News: 3/4 stars; notes effective tension and theme that humans, not sharks, are the real predators. decider.com+1rottentomatoes.com+1

• Polygon: Highlights its successful genre fusion and slasher tropes over aquatic horror. polygon.com

• Roger Ebert’s site: Applauds the efficient, smart genre blending and skillful direction. rogerebert.com

• Reddit buzz: “Incredibly tight, well-crafted survival horror… Jai Courtney is actually awesome in this.” youtube.com+15reddit.com+15rottentomatoes.com+15

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🎞️ Where & When

• Released in U.S. theaters on June 6, 2025, with an Australian premiere on June 12. es.wikipedia.org+1decider.com+1

• IFC Films and Shudder acquired North American rights; it will stream on Shudder/digital platforms likely ~a month post-theatrical. rottentomatoes.com+3decider.com+3es.wikipedia.org+3

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✅ Is It Worth Watching?

Absolutely—if you enjoy:

• Tense, isolated survival horrors

• Thrillers where human evil outshines monster threats

• Strong lead performances and smart direction

Just prepare for:

• Brutal set-pieces with slasher-style gore

• A somewhat predictable script

• Emotional twists combining horror with stark human darkness

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In short, Dangerous Animals is a tight, suspense‑driven ride that reinvigorates shark horror by making humans the deadliest force. It’s unnerving, clever, and well-acted—great for genre fans looking for something more psychological than CGI.