Rating of
4/4
One of Spielberg's Best
Franz Patrick - wrote on 10/10/08
This is one of the finest examples of suspense and horror. From the very first scene to the very last, there’s a certain menace that’s present so the audiences never really let their guards down. The idea of sharks eating people whenever they go in the water is such a simple idea but Steven Spielberg’s execution made it unimaginably terrifying. When the film is not scaring the audiences, it’s making them laugh by using the characters’ dialogue, but those hints of sunshine don’t last long because the danger is never dispelled until the very end. Spielberg’s technique of not actually showing the shark until the first hour is brilliant because he keeps us guessing on how big the fish actually is. When we finally get to see what’s eating the people, it’s that much more exciting. The second part of the movie is nothing but relentless scares: what the audiences see (when the shark attacks) and what they don’t see (the characters’ stories right after they talk about their scars). I was surprised by how much this movie affected me because it was made in 1975; most horror films are dated but this one of the few that is timeless. It relies on genuine scares and situations that can actually happen so the film becomes universal. Lastly, I must commend John Williams for the score. The already scary scenes are elevated to the next level because of the music. This is not a typical summer blockbuster film because it doesn’t rely on visual effects; it is character-driven, extremely suspenseful, occassionally funny, and the timing when it comes to horror is impeccable.
