Dangerous Animals (2025) is a survival horror film directed by Sean Byrne and written by Nick Lepard. A joint production between the United States and Australia, the film stars Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Rob Carlton, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke, and Jai Courtney. It premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 17, and was released in the United States on June 6 by Independent Film Company and Shudder, and in Australia on June 12 via Kismet Movies. The film has already grossed $7.6 million worldwide.
The story begins with tourists Greg and Heather visiting Tucker’s Experience, a shark cage attraction run by the mysterious boat captain Tucker. During the trip, Tucker reveals that he survived a terrifying shark attack as a child, leaving him physically and mentally scarred. After the cage dive, Tucker suddenly kills Greg and kidnaps Heather.
Meanwhile, on the Gold Coast, American drifter Zephyr meets real estate agent Moses. Their mutual love for surfing draws them close, and they spend a night together. However, Moses’s hopes for a romantic relationship are dashed when Zephyr heads back out to surf. There, she encounters Tucker, who abducts her onto his boat.
Zephyr awakens in a dark room, chained, and sees Heather also being held captive. Upstairs, it becomes clear that Tucker has imprisoned multiple women in the same way. That night, he drugs them and straps Zephyr to a chair while Heather is slowly lowered over shark-infested waters. Using an old VHS camera, Tucker records Heather’s horrifying death—revealing himself as a serial killer who preys on tourists.
Zephyr attempts to escape but is recaptured. Tucker returns to shore to get a new camera, leaving the boat briefly. Suspicious, Moses sneaks aboard, finds Zephyr, and calls the police. Tucker returns, attacks Moses, and kills his neighbor Dave, who unknowingly sent tourists to Tucker’s attraction. Moses is then strapped into the shark harness, but following Zephyr’s advice to stay still, he survives unharmed. Tucker stabs him to attract sharks but is forced to retreat when a lifeguard helicopter passes by.
In a tense climax, Zephyr bites off her thumb to escape, jumps into the water, and faces a huge great white shark. By staying still, she is unharmed and returns to the boat. She finds Moses near death and courageously uses a speargun to strike Tucker. He falls into the ocean and is devoured by the shark, caught on his own camera.
In the final scene, Zephyr signals a passing boat for help, and she and Moses find a renewed hope for life together.
Overall Review
Dangerous Animals is not just a shark movie—it combines human-versus-human and human-versus-nature conflicts. It explores fear, survival, and the strength of relationships, delivering both tension and emotional depth.
⭐ Rating: 8/10
Horror fans, especially those who enjoy ocean-based survival stories, should definitely watch this film.
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