Jaws Attack Analysis

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Analysis of Jaws attacks

How does the director, Steven Spielberg build suspense and tension for the audience in the opening of the film Jaws?

The film Jaws was the first ever block-buster and was released in 1975, which was based on a widely spread and admired novel; well written by Peter Benchley, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. The director, Steven Spielberg, is exceedingly famous and is well known for his high budget action/adventure films such as Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park & Star Wars 3.  Spielberg has written, directed, produced and starred in many top films. The film is based around an abnormal sized brute lurking in the calm open seas. The inspiration came from a fisherman who caught a beast of a great white shark weighing in at 4550 pound. His tagline was very appealing and memorable and meant something to people as when people went to see Jaws, to then go on holiday, they did exactly was it said “Don’t go into the water”.

At the very foundations of the film you only see a black screen but in the background you hear the diegetic sounds of the sea. This immediately links to what the film could be about, but then as soon as you observe the actual sea, you go straight underwater as something is swimming through the seaweed which makes the audience prying and anxious to see what’s lurking in the water, this is done using a point of view (POV) shot. The shots are accompanied by penetrating non-diegetic music in the background, working its way up to a crescendo; this is a great trick Spielberg used to create heavy tension and suspense. It then cuts to a completely different scene with adolescents having a superior time on the beach, showing simultaneous mid-shots and panning along the beach; this is great because the audience suspect an early attack, making them feel uneasy. The audience know there is something still out there and anyone who goes into the water will fall victim for the anonymous beach.

When the camera pulls back to show a wide shot of the sea, it reminds you of the hazard that is out there but the teenagers don’t know or suspect anything. Also there is a titled frame with a high angle shot, this shows the teenagers are vulnerable and defenceless if they go into the water for too long. The camera tracks a girl called Chrissie running towards the beach, so people connect to her & will feel for her when she darts towards the water, with the boy pursuing her; the audience already suspect danger, anxious to see which of them the is first victim. As she plummets into the sea the diegetic sound of a bell tolling can be heard which symbolizes death and funerals, so the audience know that something unpleasant is about to happen. Steven Spielberg is very good at creating suspense so when it happens the audience is shocked and surprised which makes an already film an even greater one.

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The camera then swoops underneath the water and the non-diegetic ‘do dum’ leitmotif begins, signalling the beginning of a horrendous attack. There is a point of view (POV) shot of the shark watching Chrissies’ legs kicking in the water; that’s when the audience feel for her and just want to bellow the words “get out of the water!” to her, where-as she is shouting “come on IN the water!” to the boy. This is a point of high tension.

The non-diegetic music is low thumping strings and as the shark draws in and gets closer to Chrissies’ legs the music begins ...

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