Movie Review: Jaws (1975)

*The following review was originally published as a Facebook note on October 31st, 2010


In the early 1970's, a film version of a well-recieved Peter Benchley novel (about a large great white that terrorizes a beach-centered town) was greenlit by Universal Studios. After a brief search for a director, they eventually settled for a rookie by the name of Steven Spielberg, who, at the time, only had experience in television and direct-to-TV features.  The production itself was a nightmare, as the animatronic "star" of the picture rarely worked while the cameras were rolling (earning the nickname "The Great White Turd" from the crew), and the pressure of time and money rose intensely as the days went by. Only through unimaginable "courage and stupidity" (words from the director himself) was the piece finally finished. Little did the industry know, however, that his irritably made, uncompromising little movie would not only become the first film to pass the 100 million-dollar mark, but also one of the finest examples of modern horror and suspense.

1975, Rated PG (yeah. thats right. not R. Go watch it)

   I recall making the viewing of Jaws a top priority in middle-school. While I was anything but a fan of scary movies at the time, its reputation was strangely appealing (how could one movie make so many people afraid of the water). After taking a few weeks to read the novel first (something I NEVER do these days, though the novel was much more graphic and adult-oriented), I put the movie in the player, closed as many sources of light as I could, and began watching it with my dad. From the visceral opening scene (we all know it. its on the poster after all), I was hooked. Even with a somewhat considerable amount of knowledge of some of the scares, the film still managed to make me jump a few times. A good amount of time has passed since the first viewing. And though I can't necessarily say it's as "frightening" as it was then, it has managed to get better as a movie in general, and I can now easily call it one of my absolute favorites.

Scares aside, the movie has a lot going for it, notably in the acting, which is rare in horror of recent years. The three lead actors give genuine, believable performances; Roy Scheider (The French Connection) is Martin Brody, a reluctant police chief, who is among the only people who immediately sees the threat shark. Richard Dreyfuss (American Graffiti) is Matt Hooper, an energetic marine biologist who is called to confirm the presence of the creature, and is certain that action must be taken. Robert Shaw (The Sting), in what is regarded as his best role,  plays Quint, a half-crazed boatman who is eventually hired to find and kill the shark. The rest of the cast in rounded out with solid supporting roles from the likes of Lorraine Gary (Carwash) and Murray Hamilton (The Graduate).

The picture is a masterclass in editing, with the first half dishing out slow-burn suspense that rivals Hitchcock, while the action sequences in the latter half are infinitely engaging. The set-pieces are made all the more memorable by the immortal score of John Williams, which has been heard by pretty much everyone on Earth.

   I have avoided key plot points in writing this, more so than usual, in the hopes that those reading take the time to watch and enjoy like I did. For those who have yet to see this film, be it for its reputation, plot, your parents won't let you, or the fact that the shark is said to look "fake" (if it is indeed that last one, I WILL FIND YOU...it's not THAT fake), I will leave you with my impression as a fan:

 Compared to many other horror films, this one is actually somewhat tame, for some of the violence is not actually seen (the shark, in fact, is not on screen for a good two thirds of the film). Although this was released before the PG-13 rating was created (it's PG), I do not consider it bad enough for an R-rating. Though it has its share of blood and gore, it is not truly graphic enough to avoid watching the film altogether (besides, we possess magical devices called eyelids, which can block out imagery at any time!) On a different note, the overall feeling of the film is balanced with snippets of action, thrills, humor, and some emotionally-charged acting, eliminating the sometimes sickening morbidness common in hard-core horror films. As a whole, I feel that everyone could find something to enjoy while watching this movie. And that is the sign of brilliant filmmaking, horror or not. This is one of the big ones. So find a copy and enjoy!

*As for the sequels, I have only seen Jaws 2. Though not NEARLY as good as the original, it has its moments, and Roy Scheider's performance has just as much impact. 3 and 4 I have not yet seen. And unless my curiousity gets the better of me and makes me go out and watch just how bad they really are, i don't plan to.



** Jaws is available in several editions, but I recently acquired the mack-daddy, multi-format set in Universal's 100th-anniversary Collection! This features a long-in-the-works fan documentary The Shark is Still Working, finally available to viewers everywhere. :)