Dangerous Animals (2025) Review & Summary

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“Dangerous Animals” Film Details

• Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 38 Minutes
• Date Seen: June 3, 2025 (Early Screening)

• Released On: In Theaters
• Public Release Date: June 6, 2025
• Director(s): Sean Byrne
• Writer(s): Nick Lepard
• Genre(s): Horror, Thriller, Young Adult
• Rating: Rated R
• Distributor: IFC Films

Summary

Bruce Tucker’s day job is taking out tourists to go see sharks. But, for a select few, like Zephyr, who appear not to have any close family or friends, he really puts on a show. One in which he cuts them open, makes sure the sharks get into a frenzy over the blood, and tapes their demise as he lowers them down to be eviscerated. But, unlike the past 20 or so, people, mainly women, Tucker has killed, Zephyr is different.

However, whether she is different enough to survive is a whole other subject.

Cast and Characters

Tucker (Jai Courtney)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]

• Character Summary: With surviving a shark attack as a youth, Tucker seemingly didn’t develop a fear of the water or sharks, but has embraced them. Mind you, he doesn’t seek to touch and interact with the sharks directly, but does admire and love to watch others experience their brutality.

Zephyr (Hassie Harrison)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: A surfer who lives a nomad and often isolated life, Zephyr has a bit of a chip on her shoulder but when it comes to Moses, he finds a way to try to get beyond her walls, even if she is willing to jump to the other side of them, just to maintain some distance.

Moses (Josh Heuston)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: Moses works in real estate, and has a decent family dynamic and head on his shoulders. In many ways, he seems too good to be true which, of course, makes Zephyr wonder if he is in fact not who he says he is.

Why Is “Dangerous Animals” Rated R?

• Dialog:
  • Cursing: Occasional
• Violence:
  • Violence Against Animals: Yes
  • Gore/ Blood: Moderate
  • Body Horror: Yes
  • Notable Violence: Torture, Self-Harm, Fight Scenes
• Sexual Content:
  • Nudity: Mild
  • Sexual Situations: Implied
• Miscellaneous:
  • Drinking: Yes
  • Drug Use: Smoking (Assumingly Weed)

Links

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• Official Site Link

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

Enough Time And Effort Is Put Into Zephyr So That You Can Care If She Lives Or Dies [82/100]

While Tucker does have other potential victims in Dangerous Animals, it is made clear Zephyr is the only one with the stamina, endurance, and grit, to really fight back and potentially end Tucker’s games. Now, with playing such a pivotal role, there is a need not just to root for Zephyr to defeat Tucker but also to survive. Hassie Harrison, alongside how Zephyr is written, succeeds in this.

Now, note, Zephyr is given a bit of a sob story, which some may think is a little too simple. But taking note of the bad ass vibes, alongside the cute relationship she builds with a character named Moses before things happen with Tucker, you become invested in Zephyr and want, maybe sometimes need, her to make it out of this alive, and maybe have a happy ending with Moses.

If You Like Shudder’s Brand Of Horror, With A Dash Of Comedy, Dangerous Animals Is For You [81/100]

With watching a new Shudder movie in theaters, almost monthly, like A24 and other studios with name recognition, you get a sense of a brand. When it comes to Shudder releases, it is about giving you bloody horror, a tinge of comedy, and for some, a little social commentary. The social commentary part is either absent or not that strong in Dangerous Animals and honestly, it is better for it.

What you end up getting is purely the fear of what sharks are capable of, a reminder that all these special excursions while on vacation could lead to you being killed by the guide, and solo travel, as freeing as it can be, is also immensely dangerous. So you get a good horror which may not have Final Destination 2 lasting effects, but does enough to potentially develop an irrational fear.

Overall

Our Rating (81/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

Dangerous Animals offers a bloody, suspenseful experience that thrives on just enough character depth to keep you emotionally invested. Zephyr, played by Hassie Harrison, has the grit, resilience, and subtle vulnerability required to be a final girl worth rooting for and while her backstory may lean into simplicity, the emotional stakes—especially her bond with Moses—elevate her from trope to someone you genuinely want to see survive.

Add in, as a Shudder-backed release, the film delivers what fans expect: gore, tension, a touch of humor, and the kind of fear-inducing scenario that turns everyday experiences like solo travel or adventure tourism into nightmare fuel. Dangerous Animals may not aim for layered social commentary, but in its embrace of visceral, straightforward horror, it sinks its teeth in just deep enough to leave a lasting impression.

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