While a huge part of my heart belongs to slashers, another section is reserved solely for shark attack films. I’m sure it goes back to coming of age during the release of Spielberg’s original classic, which was so successful the term “blockbuster” was coined. Like the first Jaws, the sequel was plagued with problems, but both films were worth the effort because they are equally sublime in their own unique ways. The first film was more of a character study about facing our fears, while the sequel was definitely about getting more munch for your punch. Jaws 2 follows the blueprint of most horror sequels, it’s all about how much gore and blood (and in this case, teeth), one can fling into the camera. And this film does not disappoint. However, it does the shark genre one better by making it a slasher-hybrid of sorts. Let’s picture Jaws (aka Bruce) as an unstoppable killer ala Jason Vorhees, and just for fun, let’s put a bunch of teenagers into an isolated setting, like say, trapped at sea in small boats. The combination is electric.
But the first half of Jaws 2 doesn’t follow this exact blueprint. The opening features the Orca, the infamous ship Chief Brody, Matt and Quint took for a spin in the original. A diver is exploring and taking snaps of the wreckage. The credits end with another shark coming to claim his territory and the life of the diver. The only main character from the original to return is Chief Brody (Roy Scheider), who is twice as leathery and bedraggled after his tangle in the first film. After some random unexplained deaths, including that of a killer whale, Brody begins to suspect a new predator is in their midst and it might be time to shut down the beaches again. Of course, the mayor (the great Murray Hamilton) is non-plussed and orders Brody to keep everything rolling. Eventually the shark moves away from the beaches and heads towards a group of teens who are partying on a series of small boats out in the middle of nowhere. Two of the kids belong to Brody, including his pre-teen son who is forced to grow up rather fast after his encounter with the great white.
While I adore about every second of Jaws 2, and have admittedly watched it more than the original (although I consider Jaws to be my all time favorite film), the second half is truly an amped up slasher filled with lots of screams and some rather shocking moments. Aside from the fact that Jaws eats a helicopter (!), he also chomps up one hapless victim in what looks like one giant bite. This scene continues to fascinate audiences and the character Marge (played by Martha Swatek in her only role) is well remembered by fans. Also, Donna Wilkes from Blood Song and Angel is featured as the loudest screamer of the bunch! Ironically, this half has the least amount of death, but the most amount of stalking. Our teens may be more clever than the killer!
The original director, John Hancock (Let’s Scare Jessica to Death) was replaced about a month into shooting when the suits decided he was taking the film in the wrong direction. Apparently he had a much darker vision that was far less slashery. I’m a huge fan of Hancock, but I think the director who replaced him, Jeannot Szwarc made a perfect popcorn flick. Szwarc was primarily a TV director and helmed some TV horror movies, including The Devil’s Daughter and he also worked on some Columbo episodes before hitting the silver screen. His biggest theatrical film of the 70s aside from Jaws 2 was the underrated Bug, but his film work after Jaws 2 proved to be less than fantastic. Supergirl and Santa Claus: The Movie were undisputed bombs and he went back to working on the small screen, where you probably see his name a lot, even to this day. He works on everything from Grey’s Anatomy to Fringe.
It is worth noting that the sequel to Jaws was meant to capitalize on non-horror sequels that were all the rage back then. The OK for Jaws 2 came because of the success of films like The Godfather 2 and in many ways it predicted the trend of horror to come. Like many slasher sequels, it ups the ante with more violence and a better look at the killer. I think that’s why I tend to watch this one more than the original. There is one scene featuring a diver who enjoys a close encounter with the shark, giving the audience an extremely generous look at the monster. As a kid already in love with great whites, this was just as good swimming with them! I’ve actually been in a real life shark cage, although no great whites showed up (although I did spy some awesome 14 footers of another species down there!), and my fascination continues.
Since Jaws and Jaws 2, the shark attack genre has grown to pretty respectable proportions. And I’m proud to say, I have seen most of these rip-offs. Hey, get some kids out in the middle of nowhere and rip off a body part or two and I’ll be first in line opening night!
Tags: Slasher-Hybrids
Written by: Amanda By Night | Visit Website
Amanda is a devout horror fanatic who loves to write about all things scary, with a specialty in made for television movies. Please visit her blog at http://madefortvmayhem.blogspot.com/!
Oh man – that part in Jaws 2 with the chick in the boat, after her boyfriend gets chomped, always gets to me. When Brody finds the boat and she’s hiding and then screams out SH-SH-SH-SHARK!! Freaking harrowing.
Jaws 2 is great. But Jaws itself influenced Halloween. They have the same number of deaths, both Myers and Bruce eat a dog, both take place in small towns, both have Ahab figures played by acclaimed British actors. Both Quint and Loomis deliver ominous speeches about the soulless nature of their films killers. There is an old BBC clip of the Making of Halloween where Carpenter pretty much discusses Halloween as a response to Jaws, I love killer animal and monster movies nearly as much as slashers.
Great choice, Amanda By Night! Each one of Jaws’ teeth might as well be a butcher knife.
Also, the fact that the shark gets horribly disfigured, but continues to stalk and attack draws a connection between Bruce 2 and the killers from lots of 80′s slasher flicks.
I’ve always loved this sequel too, for all the reasons you cite! I also love the deleted scene on the DVD that continues the helicopter sequence… Why didn’t they keep that one in the movie?!
Jaws 2 is brilliant, and it’s great to see such a respectful review for it. I love Jaws and Jaws 2. Both are classic movies!
Jaws 2 along with Piranha does seem to predict the summer camp sub genre of slashers. I’ve always thought Carrie was the big unacknowledged slasher prototype and the main reason Jaws 2 went down the dead teenager path. It was a big hit and was one of the first horror films to concentrate on high school kids, rather than adults. It also took the horror to the suburban middle-classes rather than have its protagonists go to a bad place.
Jeffrey Kramer who played Hendricks in the jaws movies also played coroner Graham in Halloween 2.
Great piece on a wonderful film. Jaws and Jaws 2 are great summer watches. Add in the super-cheesy 3 & what-the-hell 4, when the hot summer day has dragged on and you have had a few too many, and they fit in perfectly as well.
JAWS 2 is the best of the sequels. Jeannot Szwarc went on to direct many SMALLVILLE episodes, and… uh, SUPERGIRL. But also CODENAME: DIAMOND HEAD which made one great episode of MST3K.
other than Jaws, are there any specific slasher-animals out there? All I an find is Grizzly and Tobe Hooper’s Crocodile.
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