My First Time: JAWS (1975)

Watched in: May 2019

Didn't like ▢ Alright ▢ Liked ✔︎ Loved ▢

Did I cry?: No

Would I watch again?: Yes

Watchability: Difficult

Would I recommend?: Yes

Watch with: Family ▢ Friends ✔︎ Self ▢

I recently watched Jaws (1975) for the first time, dir. by Steven Spielberg and starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss. Here's what I thought...

Plot & Story

When people say Jaws is the mother of all shark films, they aren't kidding. This film is a genre of its own, and is responsible for the creation and success of a whole group of shark-based films, like The Meg and Deep Blue Sea. It's brilliant use of suspense and almost unwillingness to show the shark until the third act is, I think, what gives it its edge. It refuses to give us what we really want, which is to see this shark at work, and instead sets up the story and information excellently, making the eventual reveal all that more jarring. What I will say however, is that I wish I could have seen this film back in its prime, when it really was the only one of its kind and I hadn't had the chance to see any of it's modern, CGI riddled predecessors. I just think that would have given this film the chance to really shine, as I think because I had already seen films that were, if we're honest, more visually stimulating, Jaws lost its edge slightly, as I almost wanted more. That being said, it is still a thrilling story with edge of your seat action, and the scene on the beach with the dangling legs will never not be terrifying.

Characters & Performances

This film is definitely more about the humans than the shark, which really gives it a raw, real feel, and is what keeps it above all the modern shark films we see nowadays. The performances, I thought, were all very good, interesting enough to keep me intrigued during the wordier scenes, and the three leads with very different personalities created an entertaining dynamic. When doing further research I learnt that Shaw and Dreyfuss didn't get on during filming, which to be honest probably really helped to create brilliantly real strain in the characters' relationships as well.

Direction & Cinematography

This was without a doubt Spielberg's breakthrough and has become one of the most important films in Hollywood history. It is visually lovely and just looks classic, and the camera work is clever which is always appreciated, many shots being at water level to add to the sense of unease. I know the shark is often a sore point for lovers of this film, as there really is no denying how fake it looks, especially nowadays, but I think this actually was an asset to the director. They used the model sparingly, which created suspense, and when we finally did get to get a proper look at it in the third act it is a massive thrill because you've been yearning for it for almost the whole film. I also loved how we the audience got to see the beast before the characters did within the film, as Brody has his head turned, which really makes the reveal a special moment (see above).

Personal Opinions

Jaws is, in my opinion, a very good example of what a film can be when time and care is put into its creation. This film created its own cult following and a whole genre and I can definitely see why. Spielberg creates a gripping story and terrifying visuals that made people never want to go back in the water. It didn't quite have this effect on me, but I think that's only because I didn't see it in its prime, and perhaps my expectations were set just a bit too high.

Final Rating: ★★★☆☆

What do you think of 'Jaws'? Let me know!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/