IFC Films, Shudder Buy Buzzy Horror Thriller ‘Dangerous Animals’ (EXCLUSIVE)

IFC Films and AMC Networks’ streamer Shudder have acquired “Dangerous Animals,” Sean Byrne (“The Devil’s Candy”)’s buzzy movie from LD Entertainment, for the U.S.

Pairing the serial killer genre with sharksploitation, “Dangerous Animals” was penned by Nick Lepard and stars Jai Courtney (“Suicide Squad”) Hassie Harrison (“Yellowstone”) and Josh Heuston (“Dune: Prophecy”). The movie will get a wide release, exclusively in theaters, on June 6.

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“Dangerous Animals” follows Zephyr (Harrison), a rebellious surfer who is abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer (Courtney). “Held captive on his boat – she must escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below,” the synopsis reads.

Shudder’s SVP of acquisitions and productions, Emily Gotto, said “Sean Byrne is one of the most visceral filmmakers in the current genre space and we are thrilled to join forces with him again on ‘Dangerous Animals.'”

“In this film, he ventures boldly into two of horror’s most terrifying realms—serial killers and sharks—fusing them into a singularly intense and ferocious spectacle. Prepare for a groundbreaking cinematic experience that will leave you breathless this summer,” continued Gotto, who negotiated the deal on behalf of IFC Films and Shudder and by LD’s Michael Glassman and Range Select on behalf of the filmmakers.

Byrne pointed out he previously collaborated with IFC on “The Devil’s Candy,” which was a genre hit and played at Sitges film festival in 2015.

“I’m delighted to be back with the IFC family and – together with my dear friends at LD, Brouhaha, Oddfellows, and Range – I can’t wait to unleash ‘Dangerous Animals’ this summer,” said Byrne. “There have been a lot of shark films over the years but, I promise, none like this, where audiences are left to decipher who the deadliest creature really is – man or animal. It’s a survival horror experience with teeth that screams to be seen on the big screen,” he continued.

“Dangerous Animals” is a Brouhaha Entertainment production, in conjunction with LD Entertainment, Oddfellows Entertainment and Range Media Partners.

The film is produced by Troy Lum, Andrew Mason for Brouhaha Entertainment, Pete Shilaimon, Mickey Liddell for LD Entertainment, Chris Ferguson for Oddfellows Entertainment, and Brian Kavanaugh Jones for Range Media Partners. Mister Smith Entertainment has sold “Dangerous Animals” internationally and unveiled a raft of deals at the EFM/

IFC Films’ current slate include Adam Eliott’s stop motion film “Memoir of a Snail” which is nominated for best animated feature at the Oscars, as well as “The Ugly Stepsister,” Emilie Blichfeldt’s horror twist on the Cinderella tale which opened Sundance’s Midnight section, among others.

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