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31 Days of Horror Movies - Day 7

 

There is no denying that this recommendation is one of the big ones in the genre. So, without any further ado, let's get to it. 

(Cue John Williams' Jaws theme)

Day 7 - Jaws

Speaking of Steven Spielberg... although this film has him as a director, rather than a producer and it still remains not only one of his greatest triumphs but one of the best, and scariest, films ever made. There is absolutely no doubt that Jaws will make you terrified of the water. What Psycho did for showers, Jaws did for the ocean and with good reason. Every single shot of Spielberg's classic is drenched in gut-wrenching suspense and PG-rated intensity that remains unmatched. Spielberg's direction, the truly iconic Williams' score, the performances (Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw are extraordinary - look at the scar scene in the boat for an example of that), underwater footage that is wondrously unnerving; it all adds up to create something truly special and unforgettable. Without a doubt one of the joys of the film, and of course it is one of those great behind the scenes stories, is the fact that Spielberg uses the disadvantage of the shark prop not working to his absolute advantage - in other words, he goes full Hitchcock by barely showing the shark and instead relying on the water, or barrels, to create a sense of dread. The sense of dread is also used perfectly to explore Brody's (Scheider) fear of the ocean - a brilliant subtextual idea that adds to each scene involving the water. Plus, it simply is a boost that the film has some of the best lines of all time. Jaws remains a pinnacle of monster movie cinema and a great example of horror used to explore deeper fears than what is simply available onscreen.    


*All of the recommendations that we make can be found at the El Paso Public Library Catalog!

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