June 29, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Film Review: Dangerous Animals

By Dolores Quintana

There’s nothing quite like a good shark horror movie, especially since we are heading into summer. With director Sean Byrne’s newest film, we get a different take on the subgenre, in this case, a serial killer who likes to use sharks to commit his crimes. 

The synopsis goes a little like this: When Zephyr, a rebellious surfer, is abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer and held captive on his boat, she must figure out how to escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below.

Dangerous Animals is a most entertaining mash-up of serial killer movies and shark films that is buoyed by a sense of sly fun and the excellent and charismatic performances of the actors. It opens on Friday, June 6, and is well worth the price of admission. 

Jai Courtney (The Suicide Squad), Hassie Harrison (Yellowstone), Josh Heuston (Dune: Prophecy), Rob Carlton (White Lotus, Ella Newton (The Girl at the Window), and Liam Greinke (The Red) and large shiver of sharks star in the film, and each performance is lived in and nuanced. You like these people and care about them, which raises the stakes when things go wrong. 

In particular, Jai Courtney, as Tucker, an actor who has a dedicated fanbase and whom I have never really “got” before, has been set loose by Byrne. He delivers a goofy, eccentric, and terrifying performance that is 100% Australian. After watching this film, I, too, am a fan. He balances a sense of oddity and smiley menace that is truly disturbing. You can see the lonely kid inside of him as he drunkenly dances in his underpants, so you understand, but he’s still insane.

Hassie Harrison, as Zephyr, is a loner who seems to ache for something. Her character and Josh Heuston’s Moses have wonderful chemistry, and you can believe that neither one of them would abandon the other. Ella Newton, as Heather, has a gentle and vulnerable pragmatism that makes you feel for her immediately. The casting director, Nikki Barrett, and Bryne deserved kudos for assembling such a great cast. 

Writer Nick Lepard’s script is thrilling and filled with humanity, both good and bad. One of the best things about it is that the script doesn’t make the sharks the villains. They are not the dangerous animals that the title references; that name is reserved for the human beings.

The cinematography by Shelley Farthing-Daw has a rich beauty that belies the evil being done. It showcases the brilliant sun of Australia, the calm and unforgiving blue colors of the ocean, the red of spilled blood, and the placid glory of sharks. It enriches the film so much. 

But make no mistake, this film is fun and thrilling. It got one full-throated shriek out of me even though I had already seen the moment in the trailer. It was meant to be a blockbuster-style film, and it is completely successful in that aim, but it has a depth that is like the ocean itself. 

It is engrossing, gory, and, above all, filled with the excitement of summer. If you love quality scary movies, Dangerous Animals is made just for you.

Related Posts

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

Cinespia Brings Fireworks and Fan Favorites to Hollywood Forever This July

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Watch Top Gun, La La Land, and More Under the Stars at Hollywood Forever Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor movie...

LGBTQ State Senator Scott Wiener Signals Bid to Succeed Pelosi in Congress

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Wiener Files Paperwork to Run for California’s 11th District in 2028 State Sen. Scott Wiener, a prominent Democrat representing San...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Corporate Pride Pullback: Major Brands Scale Down LGBTQ+ Support Under Trump’s Second Term

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Mastercard, Target, and Others Retreat From High-Profile Campaigns as Federal Policy Shifts Shifts in federal policy under President Donald Trump’s...

Community Seeks Answers After SF Drag Performer Detained by ICE

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Hilary Rivers Vanished After a Scheduled Immigration Appointment Members of San Francisco’s queer and trans communities gathered outside the local...

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles Returns with Star Chefs, Firefighter Tribute, and Wildfire Relief Efforts

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Culinary Festival Features Exclusive Restaurant Collabs, Support for Small Businesses  EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles, the celebrated food festival curated by The...

Supporters to Gather This Weekend for Longtime Culver City Paleta Seller Held in Detention

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Family and Neighbors Will Gather Sunday to Sell Paletas and Raise Funds Supporters will gather this Sunday at Veterans Park...

Demolition Underway at Beverly Grove Squatter Site After Mystery Fire Renews Safety Fears

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Crews Begin Tearing Down Long-Vacant Apartments on First and Flores  Demolition has begun at a group of long-abandoned apartment buildings...

Indian Court Affirms Legal Protections for Transgender Women in Marriages

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Andhra Pradesh High Court Rejected Reproductive Ability Arguments  The Andhra Pradesh High Court has upheld the right of a transgender...

San Francisco Bookstore Drops J.K. Rowling Titles Over Trans Rights Controversy

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Booksmith Cites Author’s Advocacy Against Transgender Inclusion as Reason San Francisco’s Booksmith bookstore has removed all works by J.K. Rowling,...

Captain America Hits the Skirball Big Screen for Heroic Outdoor Movie Night

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Museum-Goers Can Also Catch a Superhero-Themed Drawing Session The Skirball Cultural Center will host an outdoor screening of Captain America:...

(Video) Welcome to the Urban Jungle — where nature meets the city and style meets soul

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Whether you’re chasing that gritty city energy or carving out a green oasis in your space, we’re here to help...

Santa Monica Police Arrest Shooting Suspect After Officer Ambushed Near Downtown Mall

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Man Linked to Waymo Vehicle Gunfire Taken Into Custody Following Tense Manhunt The suspect wanted in connection with a shooting...

Brentwood Weekend Specials: $9 Wine & Street Tacos, Blush-Inspired Lattes & Beauty Swag

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Street Tacos and Wine Meets Self-Care in Brentwood and Santa Monica Brentwood Fine Wines will welcome back local culinary favorite...