Few film franchises elicit quite the same reaction as that of the Jaws films. While the original picture remains a beloved fan favorite even 50 years after its release, the films that followed have become infamous for their declining quality. However, while many are busy discussing the absurdity of Jaws 3-D, or the fact that Jaws: The Revenge is undeniably one of the worst movies ever made, Jaws 2 often gets lost in conversation. While the lack of Steven Spielberg’s vision is certainly noticeable, even the most jaded of Jaws fans acknowledge that the sequel is not without its merits. However, there is one element that consistently gets called out or even made fun of: the infamous teenage scream sequences. But turning these moments into a joking matter or a point of criticism discounts the fact that they actually add the sense of terror that the picture actually needed to work, and created horror that not even the brilliant original movie could match.
‘Jaws 2’ Is Actually a Slasher Film
Spielberg’s Jaws is rather interesting genre-wise. On one hand, the movie created some of film’s most iconic horror sequences, such as the iconic demise of Chrissie (Susan Backlinie), and the bloody devouring of Alex Kintner (Jeffrey Voorhees). But the film has never neatly fit into one genre. Yes, it’s a creature feature, but it’s also a thriller, and, in some ways, it’s an adventure film. Part of what makes it so great is its refusal to conform to one type or another. However, the same cannot be said for Jaws 2. In fact, despite being considered a rehash of what the first film did, the movie’s own identity comes from it solidifying itself as a slasher. While it may not merit the same amount of artistic admiration as Spielberg’s classic, it is boldly violent from beginning to end, and, like most slashers, puts a group of teens against a seemingly unstoppable villain.
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Will the real attack scene please stand up?
That’s where our screamers come in. If there’s one Jaws franchise character who has become a meme icon, it’s Jackie (Donna Wilkes). It’s almost impossible to discuss the film’s success without someone talking about her hysterics as a counterpoint. However, she is key to helping the movie find its own genre-based voice. She truly personifies what makes teen slashers so fun: she’s the one who first suggests the group head out on the water, in hopes of forming a romantic connection with Michael Brody (Mark Gruner), only to watch as her friends are picked off one by one. When compared to other movies with similar set-ups, it makes perfect sense. After all, the term “Scream Queen” was literally coined for such performances. It feels very akin to Laurie Strode’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) reactions upon discovering her friends have been murdered in the original Halloween, as well as her original showdown with Michael Myers (Nicholas Castle). But beyond genre establishment, the screams of Jackie and other members add an elevated sense of terror that not even the original film contains.
The Screams of ‘Jaws 2’ Draw Us Into the Story
Jaws 2 is surprisingly bloody. Spielberg’s brilliant solution to show very little of the shark, and only snippets of violence, are endlessly effective in the original movie, but Jaws 2 goes in a drastically different direction, showing the shark right from the get go, as well as several brutal attacks. Because of this more brutal approach, the screams actually help draw us into the horror on a more earthy level. The first movie’s original trio work as heroes, because they rarely have over-the-top reactions to the horror (up until the end anyway). But when we examine Jaws 2, everything is far more unhinged. Even Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) is much more on edge, and, frankly, Jackie’s reactions are incredibly realistic and therefore, make the terror more realistic, despite the movie being more farfetched than the original.
One need look no further than the movie’s most horrific sequence, which sees Marge (Martha Swatek) being eaten by the shark while trying to protect young Sean Brody (Marc Gilpin). The scene is something of a legend, and is, of course, accompanied by a chorus of Jackie’s screams. And that really sells the sequence. After all, the violence is incredibly effective, but would have been ruined without some sort of massive reaction. The stoicism and calculation of the first movie would have been totally inappropriate. The same could be said for Tina’s (Ann Dusenberry) rescue following the death of Eddie (Gary Dubin). Her pale skin, wide eyes and iconic “SHARK” call really help the terror resonate, and pushes home to the audience just how traumatic the experience was for her. Arguably, Jackie’s screaming in the finale also helped sell the sequence. It’s high intensity from beginning to end, and it really adds a sense of hopelessness. Despite being a slightly downsized version of Brody’s battle from the original, the elevated terror manages to fool us into wondering if everyone will indeed make it out.
Jaws 2’s reputation is perhaps the franchise’s most interesting. No, it’s not as good as Spielberg’s genre-bending original, but it is a satisfying slasher picture, a feat that could not be properly claimed if not for Jackie and Tina’s vocalized horror. The efforts also help cast a greater sense of realism in the elevated storyline, which makes the horror more accessible to the audience. Indeed, these iconic screams of terror are not something that should be joked about, but celebrated, and, hopefully, remain in the back of the minds of movie lovers, every time they think it’s safe to go back into the water.
