Summary

Josh Heuston and Hassie Harrison chat with Steve Weintraub about Shudder’s upcoming Dangerous Animals.

Difficulty in filming gave Harrison “nightmares,” but ultimately made for an authentic viewing experience.

Heuston also gives an update on the production status of Dune: Prophecy Season 2.

Following its premiere at the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival, Dangerous Animals promises eye-popping action, gory horror, and even an unforgettable dance number ready to take its first bite on the big screen this June. In addition to The Suicide Squad alum Jai Courtney, this bloody horror from writer Nick Lepard (Keeper) and director Sean Byrne (The Devil’s Candy) also stars Yellowstone breakout Hassie Harrison and Dune: Prophecy’s Josh Heuston in a new take on a shark thriller that pits Harrison’s Zephyr against a shark-obsessed serial killer (Courtney). In an interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Harrison and Heuston sit down to discuss all things Dangerous Animals, including what it’s like to debut at Cannes, Courtney’s eye-popping, “masterpiece” of a dance scene, and the toughest moments in the production process. Heuston also gives an exciting production update on Dune: Prophecy Season 2.
One Scene in ‘Dangerous Animals’ Stands Out for Hassie Harrison

“That scene is a masterpiece.”

COLLIDER: I’m currently sitting pretty close to where you guys premiered the movie at Cannes. When you were making this, at what point did you think “We are going to premiere our movie at the Cannes Film Festival?” JOSH HEUSTON: I didn’t. I think that’s everyone’s dream is to have a release like that. It’s just a surreal experience, really. HASSIE HARRISON: It’s so funny. My husband came to set for a couple of weeks, and the first thing he said was, “This movie’s going to go to Cannes.” I was like, “That’s kind of a bold thing to say.” He was like, “I feel it.” It’s kind of funny. I think he could kind of see the forest for the trees. You know what I mean? Like an outsider stepping in, he was like, “Whatever you guys are doing is just electric. It’s so powerful, and I feel it every time I walk on the set.” It’s just cool that that translated. I have to ask, was your husband there when Jai [Courtney] did his dance? Because that scene alone might have been enough to get it into Cannes. HARRISON: [Laughs] That scene is a masterpiece. He wasn’t there on set at that time. HEUSTON: Incredible. In all seriousness, he really fucking goes for it in that scene. Were you there that day, or did you see it for the first time when you watched the finished film? HARRISON: I wanted to be respectful as an actor, so I was dying. There was much anticipation about that scene, and then he was like, “Oh, you should have come!” And I was like, “Oh man, I wish I did.” But then they played me feedback, and that’s just one small clip of an incredible dance routine.

Image via IFC Films

It’s 10/10. What was it about the script and the story that pulled you in and made you want to do this? HEUSTON: For me, the first time I read it, it was one of those ones that just jumps off the page. You can’t stop, and you’re locked in. I’ve wanted to work with Sean [Byrne] for a while. He’s a great director in The Loved Ones and Devil’s Candy. So, it’s a combination of those two things. But it’s just a ride. The second you start reading it, you can see how much fun it would be to film, like on the water, and the fight scenes, and all the torturous things that go on in it. HARRISON: For me, I’ve always been drawn to strong female characters with grit who are scrappy, and something that could showcase my general badassery. [Laughs] It was cool getting to do surf training, breathwork training, and to do those deep-water holds.
Making ‘Dangerous Animals’ Wasn’t Always Easy for Josh Heuston

“I couldn’t wait for that to finish.”

Image via IFC Films

One of the things that people aren’t going to notice when they’re watching is that you filmed this on the ocean in the winter off the Gold Coast. This was not one of those shooting-on-a-soundstage kind of situations. At what point in the shoot were you like, “Wait, how many more days do we have?” It didn’t look easy. HARRISON: [Laughs] I love that you said that. The truth is, the three of us all have such good chemistry, and we love each other so much. For me, I love Australia and never once felt homesick. Certainly, there were some night shoots in the water when it was really, really cold, that I was like, “I am excited to be on the other side of this.” Everyone’s in parkas and beanies, and you can see their breath, and I’m over here with chattering teeth and cut-off shorts. But I think what makes the movie have such authenticity and that grit and rawness. You can feel that, you know? You really have to act when you’re in a tank. When you’re living in it, you’re just in it. HEUSTON: I didn’t want the shoot to end. I was having the best time filming it. We were living across the road from the water, and you can surf before and after work every day. It was incredible. But the harness day, I couldn’t wait for that to finish. That was like a two or three-day experience, and I walked funny for a couple of days after. [Laughs] HARRISON: God bless Josh. He was the guinea pig on the harness, and there were a lot of things wrong with it. HEUSTON: Yes, my procreation is very different. [Laughs]

Image via IFC Films

In all seriousness, you couldn’t pay me to get in that harness. Honestly, your entire salary might have been for those three days. HEUSTON: [Laughs] I think so. HARRISON: And Josh is such a lovely person, too. When it was my coverage in that scene, he was like, “No, put me back up there!” You know what I mean? I love you for that. Thank you.
Filming ‘Dangerous Animals’ Gave Hassie Harrison “Nightmares”

“That stuff can get really heavy.”

So this is a completely different question. I’ve been asking everyone I’ve been interviewing recently this exact thing. I’m obsessed with seeing movies in movie theaters. Not on your iPhone, not on your TV. So I’m just curious if you have a favorite movie theater. HARRISON: Hallelujah! I mean, I’m from Texas. Alamo Drafthouse. I’m going to have to go with that. HEUSTON: Mine’s Event Cinemas and Castle Towers. It’s an Australian one, but it’s the one I went to as a kid all the time. I used to sneak in there and watch movies. HARRISON: You have nostalgia for that one. HEUSTON: Yeah. I used to pay for one ticket and go watch a movie there, and then you just go to the next one and try and go in without having to come back out. So, for nostalgia purposes, that. Hassie, you’re put through the wringer in this movie, and your body doesn’t realize you’re acting. So I’m just curious, what was it like for you at the end of each day when you were filming hardcore shit. What is it like at the end of that day, and what was it like at the end of the shoot? HARRISON: It does get into your body emotionally. I had a few different ways that I kind of let stuff go. I love taking a bath at the end of the day, or we’re right there on the water, so jumping in the ocean, listening to music, or talking it out with someone. Just letting it go. But that stuff can get really heavy. There were a few nights I had some nightmares. I won’t lie. [Laughs]

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The other thing that I really appreciated about the script is that Jai’s character doesn’t make a screw-up. It’s your character’s ingenuity and willingness to do what she’s willing to do that enables her. Can you talk about that aspect? HARRISON: Tucker really runs a tight ship. HEUSTON: He does. [Laughs] HARRISON: In a way, they’re both sharks. Tucker and Zephyr are both smart, highly capable people. I think the thrill to him about Zeph is that he’s met his match. She’s the sailfish, to stay on the fishing metaphors, of, like, that’s the greatest challenge of all, and she has to outwit him because he does run such a tight ship.
Josh Heuston Gives an Update on ‘Dune: Prophecy’ Season 2

“He’s probably going to go on a bit of a ride.”

Image via Warner Bros. Discovery

Josh, as you know, I was a big fan of Dune: Prophecy. Are you in Season 2? HEUSTON: Yes. Definitely in Season 2. We go back, I believe, in August, and then we’re filming throughout the rest of the year. HARRISON: I’m so excited! I loved Season 1. I can’t wait. HEUSTON: Oh, thank you. I love playing Constantine. He’s such a loose, fun character. And the way Season 1 ends, you can tell that he’s probably going to go on a bit of a ride after that. So, yeah, I’m excited to jump back into those shoes.

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Have they told you anything about the story, or is it more, “Just show up on set. We’ll tell you then.”? HEUSTON: Production has lots of secrecy around it, basically like the show. But I know that it will have all of the factions going against each other. I know that much at least. Dangerous Animals debuts in US theaters on June 6.

Dangerous Animals

Release Date

June 6, 2025

Runtime

98 minutes

Director

Sean Byrne

Writers

Nick Lepard

Producers

Andrew Mason, Mickey Liddell, Chris Ferguson, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Troy Lum, Pete Shilaimon