Dangerous Animals

Zephyr is a free-spirited, savvy surfer whose ordinary routine collapses when a shark-obsessed man abducts her and confines her aboard his isolated boat. He has a plan that treats the ocean as a stage, setting up a ritualized feeding that puts Zephyr at the center. Cut off from help and with time slipping away, she tests the limits of small resistances, relying on sea smarts and psychological maneuvering to create opportunities. The film keeps its focus tight, tracking the escalating tension between captor and captive without revealing how their story ultimately ends for good.

Dangerous Animals was released in 2025 and directed by Sean Byrne, from an original screenplay by Nick Lepard. It stars Hassie Harrison, Jai Courtney and Josh Heuston, with Rob Carlton and Ella Newton supporting, and favors practical effects and atmospheric tension.

The movie opened in select theaters and on VOD, drawing modest attention at the box office. It didn't break mainstream records, but home streaming and genre fans helped it reach more viewers beyond its limited theatrical run and international platforms.

Dangerous Animals prompted online debate about its shark-obsessed antagonist and the ethics of spectacle in horror. Clips of the boat-bound tension circulated widely, and some viewers praised Hassie Harrison's performance while fan communities dissected the film's imagery and ritual elements on social platforms and inspired fan art and theory threads.

Critical response landed mixed, averaging 6.465/10 from 417 votes, with many critics praising the lead performances and tense atmosphere while noting uneven pacing. Viewers pointed to themes of obsession, survival and gendered power dynamics, and the film's ritualistic imagery sparked debate about spectacle versus empathy in modern horror and craft.