History NightmareFuel / Jaws

[[caption-width-right:350:This is the movie that made you afraid to go out in the water.]]

* When the dog disappears, with the very strong implication that he's become shark food. It can be very unpleasant for people who really like dogs. It doesn't help that right after the above happens, there's the attack on Alex Kintner. There's perhaps the most distressing thing about the implied death of the dog. ''NO-ONE NOTICED''. As horrible a thought as it might sound (especially to pet lovers), if someone had actually sighted that the dog had been taken by the shark, it would have given them some warning. And young Alex might have been spared his fate as a result. But no. A silent predator sneaks in, takes someone's cherished pet, and then takes someone's son.

* When the dog disappears, with the very strong implication that he's become shark food. It can be very unpleasant for people who really like dogs. It doesn't help that right after the above happens, there's the attack on Alex Kintner. There's perhaps the most distressing thing about the implied death of the dog. ''NO-ONE NOTICED''. As horrible a thought as it might sound (especially to pet lovers), if someone had actually sighted that the dog had been taken by the shark, it would have given them some warning. And young Alex might have been spared his fate as a result.

* When the dog disappears, with the very strong implication that he's become shark food. It can be very unpleasant for people who really like dogs. It doesn't help that right after the above happens, there's the attack on Alex Kintner. There's perhaps the most distressing thing about the implied death of the dog. ''NO-ONE NOTICED''. As horrible a thought as it might sound (especially to pet lovers), if someone had actually sighted that the dog had been taken by the shark, it would have given them some warning. And young Alex might have been spared his fate as a result. But no. A silent predator sneaks in, takes someone's cherished pet, and then takes someone's son.

** The actress Susan Backlinie is so convincing in playing the horrible pain that a rumor persists that we’re actually seeing her ribs get broken by the harness used to drag her around. Even if it’s likely not true, the fact that it’s so believable is a real testament to the scene’s power.

* The film encouraged such fear of sharks (or just made hunting them look cool) that several species have been driven to endangered status due to overfishing. Creator/PeterBenchley, the original author, even said that [[CreatorBacklash he regrets writing the book]] for this reason.

* When the dog disappears, with the very strong implication that he's become shark food. It can be very unpleasant for people who really like dogs. It doesn't help that right after the above happens, there's the attack on Alex Kitner. There's perhaps the most distressing thing about the implied death of the dog. ''NO-ONE NOTICED''. As horrible a thought as it might sound (especially to pet lovers), if someone had actually sighted that the dog had been taken by the shark, it would have given them some warning. And young Alex might have been spared his fate as a result. But no. A silent predator sneaks in, takes someone's cherished pet, and then takes someone's son.
* The second major attack from the titular shark. A peaceful day, everyone's minding their own business, shouts of joy drowning each other out. Then, slowly, we focus on Brody's dawning horror, as we cut between him and a lone child, panicking beyond belief, bobbing up and down in the water '''''IN A GEYSER OF HIS OWN BLOOD. IN A PG MOVIE.''''' Then, the blissful calm turns to wary alarm as everyone on the shore starts rising up, murmuring in wonder and confusion. Then, all of a sudden, the child's screams stop, and we see a [[AdultFear woman, Mrs. Kitner the child's mother, asking "Alex?" warily before it cuts from her to an image of a torn flotation device, surrounded by tomato-red water before fading to black.]]

* The attack on Alex Kitner was originally going to be even ''more'' gruesome and terrifying. Originally, it was planned that the shark would rise from the depths and gobble up Alex in plain sight. It was scrapped for being too graphic, and the film went with a NothingIsScarier approach where the attack isn't clearly shown. However, the scene ''was'' filmed at some point, and there's [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEQQ9N8XIAICoFi.jpg:large a truly creepy picture showing what it would have looked like.]]

->''"Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. And the thing about a shark is he’s got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll’s eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn’t even seem to be livin’… ’til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then… ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin’ and your hollerin’ those sharks come in and… they rip you to pieces."''

A movie about a shark stalking its prey, devouring them piece by piece, with nary a noise nor expression. You bet your ass it has its scary moments.

->''Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. And the thing about a shark is he’s got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll’s eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn’t even seem to be livin’… ’til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then… ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin’ and your hollerin’ those sharks come in and… they rip you to pieces.''

** The actress Susan Backlinie is so convincing in playing the horrible pain that a rumor persists that we’re actually seeing her ribs get broken by the harness used to drag her around. Even if it’s likely not true, that it’s so believable is a real testament to the scene’s power.

* The attack on Alex Kitner was originally going to be even ''more'' gruesome and terrifying. Originally, [[http://ihorror.com/rare-image-from-jaws-production-is-pure-nightmare-fuel/ it was planned that the shark would rise from the depths]] and gobble up Alex in plain sight. It was scrapped for being too graphic, and the film went with a NothingIsScarier approach where the attack isn't clearly shown. However, the scene ''was'' filmed at some point, and there's [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEQQ9N8XIAICoFi.jpg:large a truly creepy picture showing what it would have looked like.]]

* The second major attack from the titular shark. A peaceful day, everyone's minding their own business, shouts of joy drowning each other out. Then, slowly, we focus on Brody's dawning horror, as we cut between him and a lone child, panicking beyond belief, bobbing up and down in the water '''''IN A GEYSER OF HIS OWN BLOOD. IN A PG MOVIE.''''' Then, the blissful calm turns to wary alarm as everyone on the shore starts rising up, murmuring in wonder and confusion. Then, all of a sudden, the child's screams stop, and we see a [[AdultFear woman,Mrs. Kitner the child's mother, asking "Alex?" warily before it cuts from her to an image of a torn flotation device, surrounded by tomato-red water before fading to black.]]

* The search for Ben Gardner aboard his boat is one of the most frightening jump scares ever put to film. When Hooper goes into the ocean to investigate the hull of Gardner's seemingly abandoned boat, he discovers a shark tooth embedded in one of the holes of the boat. When he takes a closer look into the hole, the [[PeekABooCorpse severed head of Gardner]] (missing an eye) suddenly shows up with a terrifying shriek, scaring both Hooper and the audience. Creator/StevenSpielberg added that scene during post-production because he wanted to add "one last scream" into the film. [[NightmareFuel And it was definitely effective]]!
** The scene was always in the movie. Spielberg re-filmed *just* the shot where the head appears because he judged that the timing of its appearance wasn't quite right, and he wasn't getting the "jump scare" reaction he wanted from the test audiences.

* Sharks on the whole are misunderstood and nonviolent creatures. However, ''Jaws'' was based on one very atypical shark in ''real life'' that brutally killed four people over the course of five days. So, a creature whose species isn't normally given to murder goes on a killing spree... [[AxCrazy wait, doesn't that make it even WORSE?]]

!!The film:

* The second major attack from the titular shark. A peaceful day, everyone's minding their own business, shouts of joy drowning each other out. Then, slowly, we focus on Brody's dawning horror, as we cut between him and a lone child, panicking beyond belief, bobbing up and down in the water '''''IN A GEYSER OF HIS OWN BLOOD. IN A PG MOVIE.''''' Then, the blissful calm turns to wary alarm as everyone on the shore starts rising up, murmuring in wonder and confusion. Then, all of a sudden, the child's screams stop, and we see a [[AdultFear woman,Miss Kitner the child's mother, asking "Alex?" warily before it cuts from her to an image of a torn flotation device, surrounded by tomato-red water before fading to black.]]

* The second major attack from the titular shark. A peaceful day, everyone's minding their own business, shouts of joy drowning each other out. Then, slowly, we focus on Brody's dawning horror, as we cut between him and a lone child, panicking beyond belief, bobbing up and down in the water '''''IN A GEYSER OF HIS OWN BLOOD. IN A PG MOVIE.''''' Then, the blissful calm turns to wary alarm as everyone on the shore starts rising up, murmuring in wonder and confusion. Then, all of a sudden, the child's screams stop, and we see a [[AdultFear woman, presumably the child's mother, asking "Alex?" warily before it cuts from her to an image of a torn flotation device, surrounded by tomato-red water before fading to black.]]

** In a bit of FiveSecondForeshadowing is Hooper's reaction to learning that Quint's arm scar is of a removed ''Indianapolis'' tattoo. Hooper, who had been drinking and is in a very jovial mood after swapping scar stories, ''immediately'' stops laughing. Clearly aware of what happened to the ship, for the rest of the story he keeps quiet and stares at Quint with a look of shock and fear.

** In a bit of FiveSecondForeshadowing is Hooper's reaction to learning that Quint's arm scar is of a removed ''Indianapolis'' tattoo. Hooper, who had been drinking and is in a very jovial mood after the swapping scar stories, ''immediately'' stops laughing. Clearly aware of what happened to the ship, for the rest of the story he keeps quiet and stares at Quint with a look of shock and fear.

** In a bit of Five-SecondForeshadowing is Hooper's reaction to learning that Quint's arm scar is of a removed ''Indianapolis'' tattoo. Hooper, who had been drinking and is in a very jovial mood after the swapping scar stories, ''immediately'' stops laughing. Clearly aware of what happened to the ship, for the rest of the story he keeps quiet and stares at Quint with a look of shock and fear.

* The iconic tune of whenever the shark appears is unnerving in itself. The happy jingle about half way in doesn't help

* The film encouraged such fear of sharks (or just made hunting them look cool) that several species have been driven to endangered status due to overfishing. Peter Benchley, the original author, even said that [[CreatorBacklash he regrets writing the book]] for this reason.
* The opening scene of the film where the girl in the water is killed. [[NothingIsScarier You never see the shark]] - only its perspective and her reaction, while hearing the amazing score by [[{{Music/JohnWilliams}} John Williams]]. Hearing her scream, struggle to breathe, and try to seek refuge on the buoy makes you imagine what the shark is doing to her under the surface...

* The search for Ben Gardner aboard his boat is one of the most frightening jump scares ever put to film. When Hooper goes into the ocean to investigate the hull of Gardner's seemingly abandoned boat, he discovers a shark tooth embedded in one of the holes of the boat. When he takes a closer look into the hole, the [[PeekABooCorpse severed head of Gardner]](missing an eye) suddenly shows up with a terrifying shriek, scaring both Hooper and the audience. Director Steven Spielberg added that scene during post-production because he wanted to add "one last scream" into the film. [[NightmareFuel And it was definitely effective]]!

* The film encouraged such fear of sharks (or just made hunting them look cool) that several species have been driven to endangered status due to overfishing. Peter Benchley, the original author, even said that he regrets writing the book for this reason.

** Listen carefully during the attack, and you can hear Chrissie screaming "Oh, it hurts!" and finally quoting part of the Lord's Prayer.

* Quint slowly being killed by the shark is both nauseating and horrifying. The experienced shark-hunter slowly slides down the length of his boat, incapable of preventing his descent. We see the shark's teeth biting right his stomach and all the blood comes out painting the water red. In the last moment you can also hear his spine breaking. His screams of agony add to the horror.