1. FILM BEGINNING ANALYSIS
Film: Jaws
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Peter Benchley
Carl Gottlieb
Genre:
Horror, comedy, drama, action, adventure
Running Time: 2hr 10min
The audience are immediately introduced to a sound motif, this is alarming and ominous to
the audience as it is only played when the shark is nearby or on scene. The music played is a
crescendo/staccato sound which is iconic to ‘Jaws’. The main aspect of this sequence that
we particularly see as an influence is the point of view shot used through the water. This
builds tension firstly as the person/creature of whose point of view we are looking through
is not revealed, creating a mysterious threat. This automatically and almost instantly draws
the audience in as they want to know whose/what point of view they are seeing. Secondly
the way that editing is used to cut between the point of view and the long/mid shots of the
beach and general public swimming water. This draws the audience’s attention to the fact
that there is a threat or some sort in the water and the people are completely unaware of
this. This is dramatic irony and keeps the audience interested as they feel they have more
knowledge that those involved.
The sound is also used to show that a threat has been introduced, this is music played is
quite slow and melodic, but also being very low toned and loud. This emphasises to the
audience that there is a threat but it is not an immediate threat. The scene continues, and
the pace of editing increases, the sound becomes louder, faster and more dramatic. Sound
bridges are used within on screen diegetic sounds of people laughing and screaming,
emphasising again the fact that they are oblivious to the threat
The characters in the beginning are established around a fire situated beach. Drinking,
smoking and playing music. The characters actions are one of a hippy nature, which
indicated their young and carefree personalities. Usually in a film, these kind of teenagers
are those ones to be targeted as victims in the film and happen to be disposed one by one.
2. So the audience are already bracing themselves for an act of violence, especially when the
girl and boy are running away together far from the safety of the group. The audience will
initially question the need for safety towards the younger teenagers, as one they are the
influence of drugs and alcohol and two, the girl is running away naked, therefore she is
asking for some sort of confrontation.
