Based on Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel, Steven Spielberg’s 1975 shark tale set the standards for the Film industry. The horror located on ‘Amity Island’ frightened millions of film fanatics out of the water. During the course of this essay I will be analysing how, director, Steven Spielberg creates tension in his blockbuster ‘Jaws’. I will describe the different way’s in which Spielberg uses certain techniques to build tension, such as: Sound and music; camera shots; red herrings; a tense story line. I will also include a conclusion, summarising the effectiveness of each device.
The opening scene begins with a black screen. This colour has the connotations of death and evil, allowing the audience to instantly associate the film with these themes. At this point we are introduced to the slow, pulsing music and a first person camera shot is used to track the moment of the shark. Although no clues are given, the music signifies danger and can easily be associated with a shark. The shark scours the sea bed as if looking for food. At this point we know someone or something is in danger. When the music peaks in dynamics, it stops and the camera changes to a shot of ‘hippies’ on the beach playing music around a camp fire. This creates a contrast; a sense of safeness. The camera pans around the group of people and focuses on a man and woman portraying to the audience that these two people are in danger. When the girl enters the water the audience is frightened and anxious because they know what is lurking in the depths of the water. This is called dramatic irony. When the camera goes under the water and the music begins an attack is obviously imminent. The camera gets closer to the girl in the water; as it does the music becomes louder and a lot faster. When the shark attacks the girl screams violently and is shaken vigorously. Spielberg does not show the shark at this point therefore the audience is left wondering how big and forceful the shark may be. After,...