Australian filmmaker Sean Byrne, renowned for his work on The Loved Ones and The Devil’s Candy, returns with the highly anticipated survival horror film Dangerous Animals. The official trailer, released by IFC Films and Shudder, offers a chilling glimpse into a harrowing tale of captivity and survival at sea.
A Deadly Game at Sea
Set against the backdrop of the vast ocean, Dangerous Animals follows Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), a free-spirited surfer who becomes the target of Tucker (Jai Courtney), a shark-obsessed serial killer. Abducted and held captive on Tucker’s boat, Zephyr must navigate a perilous game of cat and mouse, with hungry sharks circling below and a predator more dangerous than the ocean itself looming above.
The trailer showcases intense sequences of suspense and terror, highlighting Zephyr’s desperate attempts to outwit her captor and escape a gruesome fate. Byrne’s direction promises a visceral cinematic experience, blending psychological horror with the primal fear of the deep sea.
Cast and Team
The film boasts a compelling cast, with Jai Courtney delivering a chilling performance as the enigmatic Tucker. Hassie Harrison portrays Zephyr, bringing depth and resilience to her character’s fight for survival. Supporting roles are filled by Josh Heuston as Moses and Ella Newton, contributing to the film’s tense atmosphere.
Written by Nick Lepard, Dangerous Animals is produced by a collaboration of Brouhaha Entertainment, LD Entertainment, Oddfellows Entertainment, and Range Media Partners. The film’s score is composed by Michael Yezerski, with cinematography by Shelley Farthing-Dawe and editing by Kasra Rassoulzadegan.
Dangerous Animals is set to make its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors’ Fortnight section, marking a significant milestone as the first Australian feature to screen in this program since 2014.
Following its festival debut, the film will be released in select U.S. theaters on June 6, 2025, distributed by IFC Films and Shudder.
