Dangerous Animals Review: Cannes Debut Bites Harder Than Expected
Sean Byrne’s shark thriller makes Cannes history with a chilling blend of predator horror and psychological dread, anchored by Jai Courtney’s best performance yet.
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Cannes, June 9: Dangerous Animals, the first shark thriller ever to screen at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, is doing something most modern shark movies have failed to do—send a chill down the spine without drowning in clichés. Directed by Sean Byrne, best known for his cult horror hits The Loved Ones and The Devil’s Candy, this genre-bending feature blends psychological tension with teeth-baring carnage, making it one of the most talked-about films of the summer season.
Cannes Goes Cold-Blooded With First Shark Film Entry
Screening as part of the Directors’ Fortnight, a sidebar known for championing independent vision, Dangerous Animals marks a landmark moment for sharksploitation—a genre often dismissed for its B-movie roots. While Cannes has long celebrated bold and artistic filmmaking, it has never before included a shark-centered film in its official selections, making Byrne’s feature an unexpected yet welcome addition.
The film stars Jai Courtney as Bruce Tucker, a charismatic yet deeply sinister shark tour operator who uses his oceanic knowledge not to protect, but to prey. His character offers paid shark dives to unsuspecting tourists before drugging and killing his guests in grotesque underwater rituals. These attacks are captured on camera, adding a disturbing snuff element that has shocked audiences and critics alike.
Inside The Plot: Horror Meets Human Predation
The story follows Zephyr, played by Hassie Harrison, a spirited American surfer traveling solo along Australia’s Gold Coast. When she accepts a dive invitation from Tucker’s company, she quickly finds herself trapped in a nightmare—isolated at sea, stalked by sharks, and subject to her captor’s twisted obsession.
According to AP News, the film’s tension lies in its dual horror: the imminent threat of a shark attack and the calculated manipulation by Tucker, who treats the sharks as both weapon and deity. The title, Dangerous Animals, doesn’t just refer to the ocean’s apex predators—it’s also a pointed critique of human violence, especially when cloaked in charm and control.
Courtney’s Career-Turning Performance Draws Praise
Critics across the board have commended Jai Courtney for delivering what many are calling a career-best performance. As per The Guardian, Courtney’s portrayal of Bruce strikes a disturbing balance between likability and menace, a rare feat in a genre more often defined by clear-cut heroes and villains.
While Courtney has spent much of his Hollywood career in supporting roles, often in action-heavy franchises like Suicide Squad and Terminator Genisys, Dangerous Animals allows him to stretch his range. He is chillingly believable as a man capable of both delivering a smile and orchestrating murder.
Aesthetic Choices That Cut Deeper Than CG
The film’s technical execution further sets it apart from the average sharksploitation flick. Shelley Farthing-Dawe’s cinematography is crisp, capturing the stark beauty of the ocean alongside claustrophobic interiors of the dive boat. The use of real shark footage over computer-generated imagery adds to the rawness and realism.
Washington Post notes that Byrne avoids the genre’s traditional jump scares in favor of prolonged dread, a method that echoes the slow-burn terror of Jaws, which still casts a long shadow over shark cinema. The score by Michael Yezerski, punctuated by ironic pop tracks, enhances the discomfort, blending elegance with horror in a uniquely disorienting way.
Not Just Scares—There’s Substance in the Subtext
Beyond the shocks and blood, Dangerous Animals offers a layered commentary on how society frames predation—both animal and human. According to Byrne, the idea was to subvert the predator-prey dynamic by showing that the real danger often comes from within the species that claims superiority.
As per Filmmaker Magazine, Byrne drew inspiration from real-life predator psychology and the public’s often irrational fear of sharks, a sentiment that exploded after the release of Jaws in 1975 and still lingers. In contrast to that portrayal, Dangerous Animals makes it clear: the ocean’s most dangerous creature might be the one operating the boat.
Mixed Reactions, But Impact Undeniable
While the film has received widespread praise, it hasn’t escaped criticism. Los Angeles Times critic Tim Grierson wrote that some of the plot twists feel over-familiar and that the film “loses some of its edge” in the final act. Meanwhile, Pajiba called the movie “a visually confident but thematically muddled thriller,” though even they acknowledged Courtney’s standout turn.
Despite these critiques, the film has generated strong word-of-mouth and is already being described as a likely cult hit. As per Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds a fresh rating, with many critics agreeing that its willingness to push boundaries makes it one of the most original shark films in recent memory.
Shudder Secures Streaming Rights After Theatrical Release
Following its limited theatrical release on June 6, Dangerous Animals is now available for streaming on Shudder, the AMC-owned horror-focused platform. According to Deadline, the acquisition was finalized shortly after its Cannes screening, making the film widely accessible to genre fans eager for a new take on the well-worn shark movie formula.
The Shark Movie Renaissance Has Teeth
In a cinematic landscape flooded with reboots, CGI overkill, and safe storytelling, Dangerous Animals feels like a bolt of electricity. It doesn’t just meet the basic requirements of a good shark movie—it redefines them. With its psychological depth, memorable performances, and unnerving realism, it offers a blueprint for how genre films can evolve without losing their bite.
It’s been nearly five decades since Spielberg’s mechanical shark first surfaced and haunted moviegoers worldwide. With Dangerous Animals, Byrne doesn’t just pay tribute—he dares to move the genre forward. Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or a cinephile curious about Cannes’ more daring offerings, this is one swim worth taking.
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