Film Forum

U.S., 1975
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Based on the novel by Peter Benchley
With Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Murray Hamilton
Music by John Williams
Approx. 124 mins. 3-D DCP.

"Is there such a thing as a perfect film? One that knows what it wants to achieve and does it, flawlessly, artfully and intelligently? If so, then JAWS is as good a candidate as any. This tale of an island community terrorized by a killer shark still feels timeless and terrifying. The characterisation is precise and acutely observed (it’s one of the great guys-on-a-mission flicks), the dialogue is witty and wise, and the plot fits together like a finely crafted watch. The performances — not just leads, but the kids, townsfolk and the grief-stricken mother too — are impeccable. Best of all is Steven Spielberg’s direction: the camera moves like a predatory animal, gliding eerily across the surface of the vast Atlantic, creating sequences of almost unbearable suspense (never mind that the scariest scene was shot in a swimming pool). It’s no wonder a generation of holidaymakers still thinks twice before stepping into the water." – Tom Huddleston, Time Out

3-D conversion was directed by Spielberg and led by stereographer Jeremy Carroll.

Reviews

“Perhaps the most perfectly constructed horror story in our time.”
– The Hollywood Reporter

“Spielberg may be the man who created the new Hollywood, but in his first megahit he summed up what was best in the old -- the humor, the perversity, and the storytelling integrity of Alfred Hitchcock.”
– David Denby, The New York Times