With attributes of anxiety, thrill, and excitement, suspense films are one of the most widely known genres. They feature an alarming danger that is threatening the protagonist throughout the film, making the viewer feel concerned. In one of the most classic suspense films, Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, a killer shark shows itself as a threat to an entire New England town after it attacks and kills a swimmer. The shark poses a hazard to the beachgoers of the town, but the mayor doesn’t want to close the beaches in fear of losing tourist money in the area. Martin Brody, the police chief, and two others decide to hunt down the shark in order to protect the people and return safety to the waters. Jaws distinguishes itself from other suspense films by exhibiting a physical threat in the plot and including useful editing to heighten the excitement of the movie.
While Jaws features a small amount of psychological threat, the real threat throughout the film is physical. The trio of men on the boat hunting down the shark know the capabilities of the giant beast. They also know that their lives are
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As the shark is approaching the first victim Chrissie, the shots transfer quickly back and forth. The perspective switches from below the water as the shark’s view, to a shot above water of Chrissie innocently enjoying a swim. The excitement builds through this editing because the audience knows what is about to unfold and how much longer Chrissie has before she is killed. Not only is the editing of just the shots successful in building thrill, but so is the music added in during editing too. The deep and ominous music reveals to the viewer of the dark actions that are seconds from unfolding, allowing them to feel a sense of stimulation. If it were not for the excellent editing, the film would possess much more slowed down scenes with a more dull