The opening scene of Jaws establishes the setting of a summer resort town and introduces the first victim, a young female swimming alone at night. Through the use of point-of-view shots from the shark's perspective and shots of the woman alone in the water, the scene builds tension as the shark closes in for its attack. Despite the woman's attempts to cling to a buoy for safety, she is dragged underwater and killed, establishing the threat of the unseen shark lurking beneath the surface. The calm waters after the attack set the tone for the rest of the film, where the sea serves as another character and the location for the shark's killings.