Dangerous Animals is a 2025 survival horror movie directed by Sean Byrne, known for his previous hits like The Loved Ones and The Devil’s Candy. This intense thriller features a gripping storyline and stars Hassie Harrison, Jai Courtney, Josh Heuston, Ella Newton, Liam Greinke, and Rob Carlton.
The story centers on Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), an American surfer abducted by Tucker (Jai Courtney), a shark-obsessed serial killer who plans to feed her to sharks. Emphasis is on psychological horror, blending slasher and aquatic thriller styles. The movie had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2025, and hit U.S. theaters on June 6, followed by its Australian release on June 12.
At NetFilming, we love uncovering real filming locations behind gripping movies like this. Here’s everything you need to know about where Dangerous Animals was filmed.
Where was Dangerous Animals filmed?
The entire movie was filmed in Queensland, Australia, with most of the production happening along the Gold Coast. This region is famous for its long beaches, powerful waves, and scenic coastal landscapes—ideal for a story centered around a surfer in peril.
One of the primary filming spots was Surfers Paradise Beach, a well-known location on the Gold Coast. With its golden sand, clear water, and stunning skyline, it provided the perfect backdrop for the film’s ocean scenes.
Other notable coastal areas featured in the movie include:
- Burleigh Heads—A popular beachside suburb with picturesque cliffs and rolling surf.
- Currumbin—Known for its rocky headlands and calmer beaches, it added visual variety to the film.
- Noosa River and the Coral Sea—Some key scenes were shot where the Noosa River meets the sea, giving the film a wider coastal scope.
These locations were chosen not just for their natural beauty, but also for the sense of isolation and unpredictability they bring to a survival horror story.
Were Any Studio Scenes Filmed?
While Dangerous Animals features a lot of open water and beach scenes, some indoor or controlled environment shots were likely filmed at Village Roadshow Studios, located in Oxenford on the Gold Coast. It’s one of Australia’s top production studios and has hosted major international films before.
That said, most of the movie’s sea sequences were shot in real ocean conditions, not in a studio tank. This added realism but also made the shoot physically demanding. The actors performed in the actual ocean at night, which led to seasickness and cold-weather challenges.
When was Dangerous Animals filmed?
Filming began sometime in late 2024, supported by Screen Queensland, and wrapped up before the movie’s premiere in May 2025. The production spent over AUD 10 million in the region, contributing to the local film industry and economy.
Director Sean Byrne wanted to keep the action as authentic as possible. Speaking about the shoot, he said that working on the open water brought both beauty and difficulty: “The ocean doesn’t follow a script—every day brought new surprises.”
Lead actress Hassie Harrison also shared how intense the experience was. In interviews, she mentioned that filming night scenes in cold ocean water was physically and emotionally exhausting but added a raw edge to her performance.
Dangerous Animals Behind The Scenes
Director Sean Byrne decided to film most parts of the movie in the ocean instead of the studio. The filming choice added authenticity to the movie but came with its hurdles, including grueling conditions of shooting in the ocean.
Much of the shoot took place at night in cold waters off the coast of Queensland. Lead actress Hassie Harrison revealed in an interview, “We were out there freezing, soaked, and sometimes seasick—but it made every scream and every moment feel real.”
Byrne explained his vision clearly: “I didn’t want to fake the fear. There’s something unpredictable and powerful about the ocean that you just can’t recreate on a soundstage.” He also mentioned how the water scenes were some of the most difficult he’s ever filmed.
There were local divers and marine safety teams involved in assisting the actors during the ocean shooting sequences that took place underwater. Each underwater shot was captured meticulously to ensure the tension was real while not endangering the performers. The practical techniques used in the film are what set Dangerous Animals apart from other survival horror films.
Dangerous Animals Official Trailer
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