In many ways,Jawseschews typical horror movie techniques.
More than any other, this moment utilizes horror traditions to great effect.
It also represents a masterclass in misdirection and subverted expectation.
At this point in the story, viewers still haven’t had a glimpse of the shark.
When Hooper enters the water, the expectation is that the shark will finally appear.
What happens, however, is even worse.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
Introducing the shark at this point would have broken the spell.
Like all great horror films,Jawsdraws its strength from exploiting an everyday fear.
Moments like the severed head scene only help reinforce this broader sense of terror.
Steven Spielberg’s legendary tale of one man’s desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.
