HORROR MOVIE REVIEW: JAWS
Happy Fourth of July, Everyone! ๐บ๐ธ๐ฆ๐
Weโve got a special horror movie review today, and it might just be the only horror movie that actually takes place during the Fourth of July. No, no โ weโre not talking about the movie where a giant hot dog takes over NYC (though someone please make that happen). Weโre talking about our boy Bruce from Steven Spielbergโs classic: Jaws.
Now, Jaws might be considered the first true summer blockbuster, but honestly, Iโve never fully thrown it into the horror category. For me, a great horror movie makes me think: this could happen to me. And since I already hate swimming in the ocean (probably because of Jaws), I feel like the solution here is pretty simple: just donโt go in the water.
Find a friend with a pool, bring over some burgers and beers, and BAM โ problem solved. Shark-free Fourth of July.
Anyway, on to the review:
Story โ 8.2 ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค
The story is simple but effective. A massive great white shark starts attacking the beachgoers of Amity Island right in the middle of the busy tourist season. The mayor wants the beaches open for money (naturally), while Police Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to shut them down before more people die. Eventually, Brody teams up with marine biologist Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and salty shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) to take the fight to the ocean.
Itโs part horror, part thriller, part survival adventure. The pacing is a little slow at first, but once the hunt for the shark kicks in, the movie is all suspense.
Monsters/Villains โ 8.8 ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค
Bruce the Shark (yeah, thatโs what they called the mechanical shark on set) is still one of the most terrifying movie monsters ever โ and most of the time you donโt even see him! That actually makes it scarier. The fear of whatโs beneath the water, that unknown danger, is what Jaws does best.
That first attack? Iconic. The music? Legendary. The underwater shots? Nightmare fuel.
Actors/Characters โ 8.9 ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค
The trio of Brody, Hooper, and Quint is what makes Jaws more than just a monster movie. Roy Scheider plays the everyman perfectly โ heโs the guy who just wants to keep people safe. Richard Dreyfuss brings some fun and energy as Hooper, the nerdy but likable scientist.
And then thereโs Quint. Robert Shaw is an absolute legend here. His โIndianapolisโ speech is still one of the greatest monologues in movie history. These three guys on a boat make the second half of the movie unforgettable.
Joe SCOREโ 8.7 ๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค
Jaws is one of the greatest movies ever made. Period. Itโs suspenseful, intense, and still scary today, Is it pure horror? Eh, maybe not. But it definitely made people afraid of the ocean.
Verdict: Fire up the grill, crack open a beer, and maybe stay out of the water this Fourth of July. Happy Birthday, Americaโฆ and happy hunting, Bruce. ๐ฆ๐บ๐ธ๐ป
OVERALL (8.65)