Jaws

Jaws is basically one of the great seventies revenge movies. The life of our loner hero is shattered by an invasion of holiday-making American bipeds having fun in his ocean. Our fishy anti-hero decides it's lunch time and sets about cleansing the beaches with admirable gusto. Cheer, as the beaches are kept open, chortle as a Macauley Culkin lookalike on a lilo becomes fishfood and stifle a snigger as the cute little doggie paddles out to sea.

Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider excel as mean bounty-hunter types with a mission to kill while various extras provide light entertainment of the pink and frothy variety. The film was one of the great money-spinners of the decade and was directed, despite the tragic ending, by Steven Spielberg. Don't be put off by this. This film is no E.T. but a rattling good horror flick with infinitely more life than the rather limp Jurassic Park.

Sometimes a little slow (usually when the fish isn't providing the thrills) the film still manages to shock, even if the infamous Oscar-winning music preludes almost every shark supper. Mind you, after the first wonderful scene I don't think many of you will be swimming out to sea in the middle of the night in a hurry. Remember, there are sequels.

Review by Dave Pallin
Taken from EUFS Programme 1993-94