Running Time: 98 Minutes
Certification: 15
Starring: Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Jai Courtney, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke
After delivering tremendous features such as The Loved Ones and The Devil's Candy, Australian director Sean Byrne has solidified himself as an exciting voice in horror cinema. He is also a filmmaker with a sadly short filmography, previously made up of just those two aforementioned features. Returning with Dangerous Animals, released a decade after his last film, Byrne once more taps into the effects of a disturbed killer, but also brings a fishy twist.
This Australian-set film opens with two friends approaching a yellow boat, hoping for a last-minute excursion to go swimming with sharks. They soon meet Tucker (Jai Courtney), their guide for the ensuing experience who soothes the pairs nerves with a friendly and jokey exterior. This results in the pair's built-up terror of swimming with sharks transforming into an admiration of the majestic creatures, but things grow dangerous once it becomes clear where the danger truly lies.
Elsewhere, nomadic surfer Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) has deserted her past to find solace in Australia's east coast. She crosses paths with Moses (Josh Heuston), a real-estate agent having car trouble, and sparks fly between the pair. Their romantic night involves discussing a shared love of surfing, the meanings behind songs, and how many breads rolls are too many to eat. The lovely evening soon becomes a nightmare, as their paths cross with Tucker, the shark-obsessed serial killer.
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In the antagonistic role, Courtney brings alive the man whose thirst for blood coincides with his awe for sharks. He sympathizes with the much-feared creatures, feeling a kinship with them while a wickedness lingers in his eyes. These elements are effectively delivered in his performance and through hints at his past, which makes it unfortunate how the script leaves him to over-explain things. It all feels too much in trying to leave an impact, with a sense that the performance would be felt more substantially if the character did not monologue so much.
This is particularly distracting due to the dialogue being full of hamfisted lines. A good amount of these clunky lines are delivered by Harrison, but the performer rises above them to effectively capture a fire and determination within the character. Zephyr is focused on maintaining a distance from her family troubles, a tactic that has left her alone with only surfing to keep her company. While she holds a charming relationship with Moses, it is in service of an undercooked arc where she learns to let others in.
As this is a shark film, the important question becomes how this element is utilized. The effects are thankfully used sparingly, with the main focus being on blood and how gnarly things can become. The proceedings often become tense, particularly in the last act as it all culminates in showing that sharks can be more civilized than people. Admittedly, the final act is brought down by too many fake-out moments, while the closing quip falls flatter than a flatfish. It is admirable that Byrne tried something different with his usual fare, but the result is sadly his weakest feature yet. Despite this, Dangerous Animals effectively delivers tension amidst people trying to survive against a violent predator.
Dangerous Animals is available in UK and Ireland Cinemas now
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