00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Alex First: The Australian psychological horror film
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 Dangerous Animals delivers a fresh and
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 intense take on the shark thriller genre,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 combining elements reminiscent of Jaws and
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 Dead Calm, but with a darker, more sinister
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 twist. The film pushes boundaries in both
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 concept and execution, creating a
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 unique hybrid of natural horror and
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 psychological thriller that keeps viewers on
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 edge throughout its runtime. The story
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 centres around Bruce Tucker, a Gold
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 coast charter boat operator portrayed with
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 chilling effectiveness by Jai Courtney.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 Tucker runs what appears to be a, legitimate
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 shark watching business, taking tourists out
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 to observe great whites from the supposed
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 safety of underwater cages. This
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 setup is demonstrated early in the film
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 through Canadian tourist Greg and British
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 visitor Heather, who book Tucker's services
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 after missing out on a planned trip to
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 SeaWorld. These initial scenes
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 establish the seemingly routine nature of
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 Tucker's operation while building tension for
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 what's to come. The narrative takes a
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 sharp turn with the introduction of Zephyr, a
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 lone American surfer played by Hassie
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 Harrison. Her character, marked by a
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 troubled past, arrives in Australia
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 seeking solitude and waves. A
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 chance encounter with Moses Markley,
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 a persistent real estate salesman, leads to a
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 brief romantic connection when she helps him
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 with his car troubles. True to
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 her independent nature, Zephyr disappears
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 before dawn, continuing her solitary journey
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 in her camper van, leaving Moses behind
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 without explanation. Despite their intimate
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 encounter. The plot intensifies when
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 Zephyr crosses paths with Tucker while
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 seeking a fin key for her surfboard.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 This seemingly mundane interaction reveals
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 Tucker's true nature. He's actually a
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 sadistic serial killer who derives pleasure
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 from feeding women to sharks. While filming
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 their deaths. The boat, initially
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 presented as a tourist vessel, transforms
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 into a floating prison for his victims, with
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 its steel construction making escape nearly
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 impossible. Writer Nick Leopard's
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 screenplay takes several unexpected turns,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 particularly in the final 40 minutes, where
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 the story pushes into increasingly
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 outrageous territory. While the plot might
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 stretch credibility, it maintains
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 originality and creative flair throughout.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 The performances anchor the film's more
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 extreme elements. With Courtney's portrayal
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 of Tucker standing out, he creates a
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 character who takes disturbing pride in his
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 murderous work, always maintaining a smile
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 while orchestrating his brutal kills.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:50 The supporting cast delivers strong
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 performances throughout. Rob
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 Carlton makes a memorable impression in his
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 limited screen time as Tucker's dishevelled
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 neighbour when the boat is in port. Adding
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 another layer of tension to the narrative,
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 Josh Houston brings depth to Moses,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 portraying him as more than just a romantic
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 interest, but as someone who persistently
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 sees potential in Zephyr that she doesn't
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 recognise in herself. Director Sean
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 Barne maximises tension throughout,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 creating a claustrophobic atmosphere aboard
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 Tucker's boat and never telegraphing the
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 film's numerous shocking moments. The
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 film's technical elements enhance its impact,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 with a strong musical score underlining the
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 mounting tension and contributing to the
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 overall sense of dread and anticipation.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 Zephyr emerges as a compelling protagonist,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 with Harrison bringing a fierce pragmatism to
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 the role. Her character's fighting spirit
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 becomes crucial as she faces off against
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 Tucker's methodical malevolence.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 The film emphasises her determination not
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 to become another victim, leading to an
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 intense battle of wills between predator and
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 intended prey. While the premise
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 might seem far fetched or even preposterous
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 at times, the execution creates a
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 genuinely unsettling experience that
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 combines psychological horror with graphic
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 thriller elements. The result is a
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 provocative and grisly film that manages to
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 deliver consistent thrills while pushing
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 genre boundaries. The movie's structure
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 builds tension effectively, with each
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 revelation about Tucker's true nature,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 raising the stakes for Zephyr and anyone else
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 who crosses his path. The film
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 earned an MA rating, suggesting strong
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 adult content, and while it may test
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 audiences suspension of disbelief, it
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 succeeds in creating a unique entry
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 in the psychological horror genre.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 The combination of shark based terror and
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 serial killer elements, while extreme, offers
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 a fresh take on familiar thriller tropes,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 earning it a solid 7 1/2 out of 10 rating.