Thanks to Jai Courtney’s horrifying turn, Dangerous Animals is a chilling new member of the shark-genre family. Despite almost drowning in certain plot points, the film managers to swim on its own in a horrifying way.

Dangerous Animals sinks its teeth into the shark thriller genre by blending survival horror with a chilling psychological twist – and it’s this unsettling combination, along with a mesmerizingly sinister performance by Jai Courtney, that makes the film stand out. Centered around a rebellious surfer named Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) that is being held captive by a shark-obsessed serial killer (Courtney) on his boat, the the movie introduces not only the threat of nature’s most fearsome creature along with an unhinged murderer, but far more terrifying ones lurking amongst the waves: relationship commitment. 

The aforementioned Jai Courtney is absolutely magnetic in a career-redefining turn as the film’s human monster, delivering a performance that’s both coldly charismatic and utterly terrifying. As our female lead Zephyr struggles to survive being held captive on an old boat in the middle of shark infested waters, Courtney’s character shows that perhaps he is the bigger threat, turning the ocean into his own personal playground. It is a deeply unsettling portrayal that brings real menace to the film, and pushes it beyond the realm of the typical shark-flick. His presence injects a psychological edge that makes the danger feel even more claustrophobic and unpredictable. 

As Zephyr, Harrison impressively holds her own as the tough, resourceful, and private lead caught between man and nature-made horror. Her resilience is quite refreshing and Harrison brings an emotional depth, centering Zephyr in the middle of the chaos surrounding her. Josh Heuston as Zephyr’s love interest brings sincerity to the ensemble, but both his character and much of his surrounding plot fall into overly familiar territory. While it is a rather vulnerable plot showcasing Zephyr’s fear of commitment due to her harsh childhood followed by years of living independently on the road, the script leans heavily here on genre tropes that undercut the already great tension set up by the film’s premise. 

Fortunately, Dangerous Animals manages to bite out a unique space in the shark-thriller landscape. The pairing of primal fear of the deep sea with the creeping dread of a serial killer, the film holds viewers captive at the edge of their seats, even when the story stumbles at times. Jai Courtney’s haunting turn here is reason alone to watch. His performance is a brutal, unnerving ride that hopefully will lead to exciting more projects for him, as he makes Dangerous Animals a little darker and more disturbing than the biggest shark in the sea.

Rating: B+

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: Best Supporting Actor (Jai Courtney)

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