The suspense Spielberg shows in differs from other shark films. Viewers never see the shark until about two-thirds into the movie. However, the fear of the shark’s existence is conveyed through the predator’s point of view, the leitmotif of the shark, and spatial irony.
When viewers are shown the story through a character’s point of view in the film, we tend to identify with that character’s thoughts and emotions. When the characters are placed at a disadvantage, the audience empathizes with their frustration and joins them in their anger when they face injustice. However, in Jaws, the viewers cannot empathize with the shark’s thoughts or emotions. Whenever the shark’s POV is shown, and it sees the surface of the water, we are terrified that it might attack the person depicted. This is because we put ourselves in the shoes of the potential prey – humans. The viewers are only left with the fear of the shark’s uncontrollable instinct.
John Williams’ two-note theme turns sound into fear itself. The same music that appears before the shark’s appearance signals to the audience that the shark is coming. Hearing the sound becomes more terrifying than seeing the shark. The sound is made by only two notes (E-F, F-F#), but this is the fastest way for the audience to notice the shark’s presence. This non-diegetic sound is John Williams’ way of communicating with the viewers and hinting at the next scene.
Most horror movies heighten tension in dark, small spaces where you can’t escape. On the other hand, this film sets its terror in the vast openness of the ocean. Under the bright sun, the vast ocean looks endless, yet it becomes an open space where there’s no place to hide. Audiences feel exposed, left between viewing the safety of the surface and the unknown depths below. Spielberg uses the contrast between the surface and the underwater to amplify this suspense. The viewers always hear the laughter above the water, which provides warmth; however, when the camera shows underwater, the silence and shadow immediately heighten the tension. While the camera lets us gaze at the unreachable surface, the viewers remain trapped in this fear.
Jaws reminds the audience that fear doesn’t need to be seen, heard, or even real to hold us captive – it only needs to be imagined.
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