Jaws (1975)

                Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, is a suspenseful film about a once quiet summer resort town whose waters become plagued by a menacing killer shark.  The film follows main protagonist, police chief Brody, as he tries to keep his town’s water safe from the killer shark, eventually having to hunt it down and kill it himself.

                The suspense and horror created by this film is so intense that since its release nearly 38 years ago, some people are still afraid to go swimming at the beach.  Jaws utilizes various cinematic elements to achieve this high level of suspense.  Arguably the biggest suspense-creating element used is the soundscape during certain scenes.  The “shark’s theme” (Da-Dum, Da-Dum…) used during scenes where the shark stalks its’ victims is so effective in creating an uneasy, suspenseful feeling that it has become one of the most universally known tones.  Another cinematography element used to convey suspense are the POV shots from the shark’s point of view as it approaches its victim.  These low angle POV shots create a helpless, uneasy feeling in the viewer as they watch the shark slowly approach oblivious swimmers, knowing that they are about to be doomed. 

                Spielberg does an excellent job in marrying all these cinematic elements together to create a timeless horror film, sure to scare people out of the water for decades to come.