DANGEROUS ANIMALS

This film is fun and silly, and sometimes that's exactly what the horror genre needs. While the stakes are high and the violence is substantive, what could simultaneously be more outrageous and yet also efficient than a murderer whose modus operandi is feeding his victims alive to sharks? It's a balance that's first neatly struck in the script by Nick Lepard (his debut feature), bringing together the Australian preoccupation with serial killers and the love/hate relationship between sharks and humans. It does deliver a unique character to story, adeptly handled so as not to end with 'Sharknado'-esque dialogue.

Our next vital touchpoint in keeping the film firmly grounded is Jai Courtney's performance. You're sure to have come across an Aussie bloke like him: a little gruff, enjoys a drink or ten, a bit of a dark sense of humour, more than willing to step over the line of appropriate conversation. Courtney is swallowed whole by this role, with a shadowy monster encompassing his whole being. We know him to be a renowned character actor, but this may be one of, if not his most memorable role to date. Despite its atypical genres, it's a performance that's deserving of awards recognition; it's not that far-fetched a thought, the film having its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight.

In fact, Courtney's performance may be the most iconic Australian horror performance since John Jarratt's turn as Mick Taylor in 'Wolf Creek' back in 2005. It's almost inevitable that there will be some comparisons between the two films: larger-than-life ocker characters thriving in iconic Aussie landscapes torturing and killing victims for their own pleasure. It's not a slight whatsoever on 'Dangerous Animals' - if anything, it's a compliment that it's of comparable calibre.

As far as the deaths go, this film is laced with both thrills and horror. Australian director Sean Byrne ('The Devil's Candy', 'The Loved Ones') chose to film on open waters off the Gold Coast, and it only adds to the anxiety at play throughout the narrative. With a good portion of the story set at night, the constant concern of what's lurking beneath the surface sees a dread growing in the pit of your stomach. Add to that the acute feeling of every knife slicing through flesh, every broken bone, every skull-splitting spike as it's so viscerally displayed on screen, making this cinematic experience a very personal one (so be warned if you're at all squeamish).

That's charmingly balanced with the enjoyable elements scattered throughout the film. Amid all of the nail-biting moments are some of genuine fun that provide much-needed levity. This seems to be a trait of horror films that's perhaps best handled by Australian creative teams. A great example in the film (without spoiling anything, as you'll find it in the trailers) is Tucker's rendition of 'Baby Shark' to a pair of tourists he takes shark diving.

'Jaws' copped a lot of flak for its negative portrayal of sharks as mindless, vicious killers; here, Tucker is actually in awe of their might, manipulating their desire for blood to ensure his victims are properly disposed of. At one point, he even shares with Zephyr that it's not their fault, as he compares himself as a serial killer to a shark; she immediately (and bravely, for someone handcuffed inside of his boat) tears him down. It's a substantive difference from the 1975 iconic shark film, but a noticeable change of tone that doesn't demonise these creatures.

It's sensational to once again witness such an exceptional Australian horror. The great news is that this triumphant effort is getting a release in dozens of countries, and, at the time of writing, is already close to making back its budget. I can't wait to see what further success it has, because 'Dangerous Animals' truly deserves it. It's one killer film that locks on from the very first moment and refuses to let go. Get on board and dive in for a bloody good time - just don't say I didn't warn you when you're watching parts of the film through your fingers.