Take Two is a series from movie buffs Isabelle Curtis and Fritz Freudenberger to review entertainment options in the region. With several shark sightings around coastal Maine this year, we thought the 1975 summer horror movie “Jaws” was timely. This classic was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss. The film is available to stream or rent online and at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. Although rated PG, we would not recommend this for young children.

Fritz: If you’ve spent any time in coastal New England, “Jaws” is well worth your evening. With a plot as bare-bones as the corpses left in the monster’s wake, “Jaws” makes up for narrative with dedication to storytelling fundamentals. At its core, the movie is about a giant shark that terrorizes a coastal town, killing tourists and locals alike. Police Chief Martin Brody (Scheider), a tough former New York City cop, is tasked with killing it and teams up with a wealthy scientist-benefactor (Dreyfuss) and crusty shark hunter (Shaw). The hunt is on. All this while being pressured against causing a tourist-season-crippling panic by the mayor, who I might argue is the real villain.

As far as cinema is concerned, “Jaws” earns its place as a classic a dozen times over. We could talk about the innovations in cinematography, the amazing animatronics, and the set design before the digital age. However, I think it earns your attention by sticking to the most basic of storytelling elements: tension.

From the first minute of the film, I was "hooked." Each scene, from calm to frantic, leaves you anticipating disaster at every turn. I was constantly afraid for who might be the shark’s next victim, and I've seen the movie before. There was hardly a moment where I wasn’t wrapped with attention, waiting for disaster with "baited" breath.

My only film gripe was an awkward boy’s boat trip scene that seemed to linger on. However, character development in this final act gave meaningful depth to an otherwise shallow story.

If you’re a fan of horror, foundational American cinema, or just plain good storytelling, this one’s for you.  

5/5 fins 

Is: Is it wrong to find a film about a man-eating shark charming? Taking place in a faux coastal New England tourist town one step removed from Boothbay Harbor, I couldn’t help cracking a dopey smile whenever a set piece reminded me of home, all while hapless swimmers became shark chow in the background. Fair warning, my viewing experience may be a little skewed.

My bias also swings in the opposite direction, as the film is tainted by its contribution to a lasting stereotype of sharks as intentionally ruthless, human killers, resulting in their inhumane treatment. My obligatory PSA: Don't fall for anti-shark propaganda! But operating under the assumption that the titular Jaws is a hyperintelligent and sadistic one-off, watching the cat-and-mouse between the beast and our three protagonists is riveting. It’s Captain Ahab and Moby Dick for the “modern” era, and I was cheering from the sidelines.

My investment was aided by how well the special effects have held up for a 50-year-old movie. Sure, the puppet occasionally looks a little silly, but I was convinced nine times out of 10. Considering how poorly it would have aged if CGI had been available, I couldn’t ask for more.

If you’re plugged into the popular zeitgeist, you may have heard of “Summerween.” As the name suggests, practitioners incorporate Halloween festivities into the summer months through social gatherings and watching spooky movies (a surprising number of which are set between June and August). With Fourth of July weekend as the movie's backdrop, there’s no better way to hop aboard the Summerween trend than booting up “Jaws.”

4.5/5 fins