Jaws (1975) Review

"You're gonna need a bigger boat"- Chief Martin Brody

With the summer season of blockbuster films upon us, what better film to review than the one that started it all. Steven Spielberg's 1975 film Jaws was not only the first film to start the notion of the summer blockbuster, but for me, IS the definitive summer blockbuster. It's a film that left an impression on me many years ago, and has been watched again and again ever since. Until recently, with the viewing of Martha Marcy May Marlene, Jaws was far and away my all-time favourite film. Though it is neck and neck with Martha Marcy May Marlene, Jaws has had such an impact on furthering my younger self's interest in film, that it will always be a film I continue to praise and view countless more times. 

What's interesting about Jaws is that it is almost two films rolled into one. The first half is most definitely a horror film, with the shark claiming several victims in a short space of time. The death scenes, even by today's standards, are pretty violent, with severed limbs shown in close up and a fair amount of blood. Needless to say, but this was unlike anything seen in a PG film back in 1975. But it is not the gruesome sight of these attacks that really makes the audience feel uncomfortable, it is the combination of cinematography, music, and Spielberg's staging of the scene before the shark attacks. It is almost pointless to talk about how well these elements are used in Jaws, as they have been talked about so much they are globally recognised. The musical score composed by frequent Spielberg collaborator John Williams is so effective, and yet primarily consists of only two notes. Gradually becoming more dynamic, those two notes perfectly mirror the growing threat of the shark approaching, making for a flawless match of visual and audio elements. The audience is drawn in more through the use of cinematography, as the camera becomes the shark's point of view, with the audience bracing themselves as the camera slowly moves closer to the victim. I think this is most effective in the film's opening sequence, as the first shark attack is shown. In the scene, a young woman named Chrissie Watkins (Susan Blacklinie) goes skinny-dipping at night. Spielberg demonstrates his mastery of suspense by decided against using a musical score when the camera isn't being used to show the shark's perspective. The lack of music, with just the sounds of Chrissie swimming gives the eventual attack greater impact, and is made more horrific with there never being so much of a glimpse of the shark, just the torment of Chrissie. This scene alone stands as proof that Jaws clearly fits into the horror genre, and yet, it is the thrilling second half of Jaws that is the main draw of my repeated viewings. 

With the attacks happening continuously, Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) brings in shark expert Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) to help convince the stubborn Mayor Larry Vaughan (Murray Hamilton) to hire someone to kill the shark. After witnessing the horror of the attacks on the 4th July celebrations, Vaughan agrees with Brody, and they hire the charismatic Quint (Robert Shaw) to do the job. Quint brings Brody and Hooper with him on the hunt and they head out to sea to put a stop to the menace. The three men hunting down the shark is the entire second half of the film, and it's by far one of the most thrilling sequences ever put on film. They try everything to catch the shark: weighing him down with barrels, leading him into the shore, using an anti-shark cage to get close enough to inject him, and yet it is a bullet that gets the job done in the end. That and a pressured air tank. It's a real testament to the film's strength when I've seen this film countless times, and yet can never exactly remember the order of action set-pieces. There are so many exciting moments, and not remembering the order means that the suspense is still present even after so many viewings. The action sequences are some of the best I have ever seen, but it's not just Spielberg's use of horror elements and action that makes Jaws so special: it's the three protagonists.

Scheider, Dreyfuss and Shaw give flawless performances as the men tasked with killing the shark. Their personalities have been established throughout the film's first half, so to see all three of them together and to see those personalities clash is a real treat. The results of their bickering is mostly hilarious, with Quint being the no-nonsense hunter and Hooper's softer approach of studying the shark, with Brody caught in the middle. Despite the arguments, all three of them are determined to catch the shark, and so there are moments of co-operation when push comes to shove. One scene I must highlight is the Quint's monologue during the first night of the hunt. He tells the story of how he encountered a group of sharks with his regiment in World War II, and the psychological effects such an encounter can have. This scene stands out as being the most chilling moment of the film, but once again, it is the lack of an appearance by the shark that adds so much more impact. The focus is entirely on Quint, and Robert Shaw is completely captivating here. It's a performance that, just for this scene alone, should have won him an Oscar in my opinion. If I could choose one particular moment that I love the most in Jaws, the monologue is it. But the entire film is a masterpiece, and everything I love about it just gets better the more times I see it.

Jaws shocked audiences back in 1975, and is bound to shock and thrill for many more years to come. A simple story told brilliantly, the film caters to action and horror fans, and is a stand-out in both genres for the use of thrilling set-pieces with disturbing imagery and suspense. It also boasts top performance from its cast, and strong writing to tie it all together. Jaws is everything a film should be, not just what a summer blockbuster should be. It is a film that has only gotten better with age, and one that I have never tired of watching. It is, quite simply, perfection.

Pros:
+ Flawless acting from all the cast.
+ Suspenseful throughout, still present after many viewings.
+ Memorable and chilling musical score.
+ Fantastic pacing, a horror film to start and an action film to finish.

Cons:
- None of note, although some people may not like the lack of action sequences until the second half of the film.