Dangerous Animals has the potential to be a sleeper hit of the summer. So, it’s unfortunate Sean Byrne’s horror-thriller film has been released prematurely. But nevertheless, the film will initially attract a crowd from the squeamish to the chortling yucksters who share a mutual interest – everybody loves a shark movie.

While Byrne’s movie has plenty of deep sea casualties, the film’s secret sauce is the star power of Jai Courtney; a comment that could be perceived as snarky and flippant considering Courtney’s previous action efforts haven’t had much longevity (A Good Day to Die Hard, Terminator Genisys, his Suicide Squad endeavours). However, as an Australian actor who has been given a meaty (and meat-headed) role in a project from his native land, Courtney turns a corner in his career as nihilistic boat captain Tucker. It turns out that Jai Courtney isn’t an action star after all – he’s a fantastic character actor who is great at being physical. In between feeding tourists to sharks and getting into the occasional fight with our heroine, lone wolf surfer Zephyr (Yellowstone’s Hassie Harrison), Tucker hobbles around his personal vessel and indulges in his own “quirks” (or as other people would refer to as “deranged serial killer behaviour”). But, Courtney plays Tucker as a fool as well, and can often surprise us with a morbid laugh when he takes a hit to the head and pulls off a miraculous prat fall. These are goofy moments, but they add character and a sense of realism in a flick that often flies in ridiculous directions to entertain the audience.

Being an Australian movie, Dangerous Animals contains brutal violence with a consistent emotional detachment. Some may deem it as cruel and be reminded of an earlier era of “torture porn” horror. However, suspending your disbelief is a must in Dangerous Animals, which may also call for the audience to shed their sympathy. That might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but it’ll be an ideal plunge for the right (and slightly disturbed) folks.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie