As the film moves towards the second attack it starts on the beach. A young boy walks up the beach to his mother as a ‘moving subject’ camera angle. This makes the audience think that the boy is a potential victim for the next attack. The camera angle moves to a ‘two shot’ of the boy and his mum. We start to learn more about the boy e.g. his name he asks to stay in the sea this creates empathy because he could be attacked in the water. We see a ‘close up shot’ of brody’s face when he is sat on the beach we can see fear in his face which builds up tension because he knows and the audience know that there is a shark in the water. There is a man throwing a stick to his in the water. The man is wearing a yellow t-shirt which is linked to most victims like the lilo being yellow which we find out later in the film. The camera angle moves to a medium shot of the dog in the water swimming with a stick, this also makes us think that it is a victim which creates fear and empathy for the dog. A long shot is used for the boy swimming on the lilo which is yellow. This creates tension as we see the boy moving further out where we know the shark could be waiting. On the build up to the attack there are two false alarms used. The first is a ‘very long shot of a old man swimming in the sea. He is wearing a black hat and that is all you can see as he swims which makes it look like a sharks fin. This creates sudden fear and tension but then relieved when he lifts his head out the water.
The second false alarm happens when a man and a woman are playing around in the water. This is seen in a ‘long shot’ camera angle. Tension and fear is created because an ‘over shoulder shot’ is used when a man is talking to Brody and is blocking his view of the sea, which creates tension because we cant see what’s going on. Then the woman screams which makes you think she is being attacked then we see it was just a man and woman playing.
We hear the man calling for his dog then a ‘long shot’ of the sea is used we see no dog but just its stick floating in the water. So the audience suddenly presume that the dog has been eaten by the shark which creates fear.
The next camera angle that is used is the shark’s calling card the ‘under water shot’. This is of legs kicking in the water the audience automatically think the shark is present which makes the audience afraid for the people in the water. The attack is seen in a ‘very long shot’ so we still don’t see the size of the shark. Brody realises what is happening and a general panic occurs which is seen in a ‘long shot’ this shows the scale of the panic which makes the audience more afraid. The last shot that is used in this attack is a ‘medium long shot’ of the lilo washing up on the beach, the one that had been attacked. There is no music and it is calm this is a kind of silence for the dead and showing that the threat has gone. This silence is used at the end each attack in the film.
The third attack takes place on the 4th July the day there are loads of people on the beach Independence Day. At the start no one will go in to the sea until one family make the move. Once every one is in the water there is a panic when a fin is seen but yet there is no music. This seems strange where as in the other attacks music is used when the shark is present. Every one rush’s out of the water and no one was attacked which is also strange. We soon learn that it wasn’t a shark but it was a false alarm as the boats follow it and two boys in diving suits pop up out of the water with a fake fin. This relieves the tension that was built up.
Then the camera angle moves to a ‘very long shot’ of the pond and we see fins in the water heading towards it. And we remember that Brody’s son is in the pond which creates concern, tension and empathy. It is seen and panic is created then the music starts to play then we realise this is real and dread is created. In the pond we see a ‘very long shot’ of Michael (Brody’s son) and his friends in their boat we also see a man in a boat further away. At this point we see the shark heading towards the boat, and then the camera keeps switching between the two boats as the shark gets closer. This makes the audience afraid because it shows the shark closing on and the fear on the kids faces. The first boat is tipped and the man falls out and then the second boat and the boys fall in. this creates fear because every one is in the water with the shark then we see a underwater shot of a torn off leg. And then the shark heads towards Michael empathy is created because we know him quite well. And a ‘medium close up shot’ of his face shows fear and shock on his face. But then the shark changes direction away from Michael and goes away. This relieves the audience, we see Michael being pulled out of the water unconscious which creates empathy and then he comes round. Also as at the end of every attack there is a wide shot of the sea and a silence showing the threat has gone and it is calm.
Throughout the film the director has built up fear of the shark through different ways. One is showing its strength by using books in the film showing what a shark is capable of, which creates fear. And also when the shark was being hunted by two men on a little pier, when the shark took the bait it also dragged some of the pier with it. This makes you realise that this is no small shark, showing how dangerous it can be and building more fear of it. The director also uses music when the shark is present and leading to an attack. This creates dread because when the audience hear the music they know that something is going to happen making them afraid. Also fear is created through characters reactions for instants when the shark is seen there is a massive panic which also makes the audience more aware and afraid for the people in the water.
The film has been put together very well to build up tension and fear. It starts with the first two attacks close together. This builds up tension because we see how dangerous this animal is on two occasions in a short space of time. So when it comes to the third attack on the 4th July Independence Day when loads of people are involved. And we know something will happen because we know what it can do and seen what it can do, so you are afraid for what it will do to these people. And in this attack Brody’s son is a victim which creates a lot of tension and fear because we are more attached to the character because we know a lot more about him and empathy is felt. In the last part of the film a lot of tension and fear is created. At first it looked as if the crew were going to kill the shark. But the tables started to turn as the shark started fighting back by sinking the boat, killing the captain which created tension because it made you think the shark was going to win this battle. Until it came down to last minute, Brody one on one with the shark. As the shark approached, Brody was shooting at it and missing consecutively which creates fear and tension because the audience think the shark is going to get Brody if he keeps missing. Then at the last second Brody shoots hits the canasta in the shark’s mouth and it blows up killing the great white. This relieves the tension that has been building up making the audience give a sigh of relief. And the film finishes with a happy ending as Brody and the ocean biologist swimming into shore.
I think the scariest moment of the film was when the shark was in the pond heading towards Brody’s son Michael. Because throughout the film the audience have got to know the family and when the shark was heading towards Michael a lot more tension. Fear and empathy was created because the audience are afraid of what the shark will do to him. Because at this point you have seen what damage it can do which makes the audience a lot more afraid of the shark and a lot more afraid for Michael.
BY Chris Blow
