'Dangerous Animals' review: Jai Courtney is having a blast in this silly shark thriller

Courtesy of IFC Films/Shudder

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No summer movie season is ever complete without a ridiculous shark thriller, and this year’s entry is “Dangerous Animals,” a sun-baked slice of absurdity that’s equal parts gory and goofy. The twist? It’s not just the sharks you have to fear. There’s also a serial killer in the mix: a wildly unhinged, bulked-up Jai Courtney, who’s clearly having the time of his life feeding unsuspecting victims to the ocean’s deadliest predators and recording the whole thing.

Courtney plays Bruce Tucker, a deranged Australian boat captain who survived a brush with death as a child after being swallowed by a great white. Now, years later, he runs a shady tourist expedition, luring thrill-seekers into the deep under the pretense of swimming with sharks. Spoiler: they never come back. Decked out in sun-bleached tank tops and a manic glint in his eye, Courtney delivers several deranged monologues—on aquatic ecosystems, mosquitos, and everything in between—as he preps his victims for the chum bucket.

But Tucker may have met his match in Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), a resourceful survivor with a hardened edge thanks to a rough upbringing in the foster care system. She’s not just another easy target, and her fierce survival instincts spark a twisted admiration in Tucker. Yes, there are sharks in the water, but the real tension comes from the psychological chess match unfolding between the two leads.

Director Sean Byrnes and writer Nick Lepard lace the film with playful nods to “Point Break,” “Hannibal,” and, of course, “Jaws”—plus a hilariously creepy rendition of “Baby Shark” that you won’t soon forget. “Dangerous Animals” is lean, mean, and dumb in all the right ways. Sure, the characters make bone-headed decisions that will have you yelling at the screen, and the escape-capture-repeat cycle gets a little tiring, but the film stays buoyant thanks to its off-kilter energy and a few well-timed twists.

It’s a breezy, blood-soaked summer ride best enjoyed with an ice-cold Corona and zero expectations. And if nothing else, it confirms what we’ve all suspected: Jai Courtney deserves to cut loose more often.

Grade: B

DANGEROUS ANIMALS is now playing in theaters.