“Jaws” (1975)

Genre: Horror
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary

“Jaws” was possibly the very first movie to be given the moniker “summer blockbuster,” setting the benchmark to which all other highly anticipated summer releases are judged. It fundamentally altered the way films are shot and marketed, becoming one of the greatest ever horror-thrillers.

The story begins when a great white shark picks the waters off the shores of Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, as its feeding grounds. The locals find themselves in a tricky position. Trying to avoid scaring off tourists vital to local business, the mayor attempts to cover up the menace. However, it soon becomes clear the shark is not about to leave them alone, and police chief Brody (Scheider) is compelled to seek help.

“Jaws” stands as a brave and masterful illustration of contemporary cinema. It is alone amongst films in the horror genre, showcasing superb editing, beautiful film craft and perfection of casting and acting. All of these attributes combine to elevate the movie to iconic status and make it ageless.

The audacious idea to taunt the viewer with flashing glances of the shark until the very end is highly effective, giving the impression that menacing shark poses an even greater danger.

The very second that Hooper (Dreyfuss) realises that Ben Gardner’s sinking boat isn’t quite empty gives the viewer possibly one of the most infamous and effective frights in cinema, and the uplifting finale provides the pinnacle of the movie’s enjoyment. It is reasonable to declare that a better horror-thriller might never be produced.