The use of the tracking shot on Alex immediately makes us think that he is going to get attacked, and so right from the beginning of the scene tension starts to build in the audience. We then see the boy holding hands with his mother for what is going to be the last time. He asks his mum if he can get his raft and go back in the water, because the audience has thought that he is going to be attacked his mum agreeing to let him go back in for 10 minutes will help to increase the level of suspense and tension.
Later on with use of mid/close-up shots the camera focuses on Chief Brody’s face staring into the water, as he thinks that something is going to happen, and every time someone walks past the camera the shot moves further in on his face. After this has happened twice the camera then has a long shot out over the sea, then someone walks past and we see Brody’s face looking directly out into the water again. This shows us that Brody is very uncomfortable with the beaches being open and doesn’t believe that the girl who was previously attacked was killed by a boating accident.
After this has happened Brody’s attention turns to what looks like a dorsal fin, but is in fact it is just Harry wearing a black hat. We also fin out from Harry that Brody does not like the water and never goes in it. Soon after this a man starts to talk to Brody but it is not clear what he is, the camera is also pointing over the mans shoulder to make it look like Brody is not listening to what he has to say but has his complete focus on the sea. Again this shows that he is completely uncomfortable with the whole situation and so this adds more tension in the audience. As the man is talking to Brody we hear a women’s scream in the distance, at this Brody jumps out of his chair obviously thinking someone is being attacked, it is a false alarm. This increases the amount of suspense in the audience, as they are coming to think that an attack is inevitable.
As Brody starts to relax the first sign of trouble appears. The dog has gone missing. Shortly after hearing the owner calls we see with the use of a mid shot the stick floating in the water, this signals to the audience that the dog has been killed and so the level of suspense is reaching its zenith. We then hear the familiar music which has is associated with the shark and see with a point-of-view shot the children’s legs under the water. As the music gets louder the children’s legs get nearer and we then see what looks vaguely like a seal, but is in fact the boy on the yellow raft. We then get a cut to above the water where we see a man realizing what has just happened, we then get a simultaneous track and zoom shot on Brody’s face as realization kicks in. We then get a general panic as the blood starts squirting everywhere; at this point the tension in the audience has reached its summit. During the panic Brody still refuses to go into the water and jumps back at the slightest wave.
After the panic of getting the children out of the water is over the music suddenly stops whilst Alex’s mother cries out for Alex. At this stage the tension in the audience has died down completely but instead would be replaced with an emotional atmosphere as the audience realises what has happened.
Throughout the whole film the background music dynamics generally represents the amount of tension and suspense present in the audience. For example during the whole of this scene music is present and there is a gradual crescendo as we get nearer to the attack, as does the amount of tension in the audience.
