Jaws (1975) DVD Review – UK

A police chief, shark scientist and hardened sailor set out to kill a huge shark that is terrifying the small seaside community of Amity Island.

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A police chief, shark scientist and hardened sailor set out to kill a huge shark that is terrifying the small seaside community of Amity Island.

Runtime

1 Hour 59 Minutes

BBFC rating

Region

Region 2

Sound

Dolby Digital 5.1

Aspect

2.35:1

Release year

1975

Details

As the busy summer season approaches, the small resort community of Amity Island is preparing for its most profitable time of year. The beaches are packed with tourists and local businesses are counting on the Independence Day celebrations to bring in thousands of visitors. Unfortunately, something far more sinister has arrived first.

After a young woman is brutally attacked whilst swimming at night, Police Chief Martin Brody becomes convinced that a large shark is responsible. Faced with mounting evidence and growing public concern, Brody wants to close the beaches immediately. However, fearful of the financial consequences, the town's mayor refuses to believe a killer shark is lurking just offshore.

As further attacks claim more victims, marine biologist Matt Hooper arrives to investigate and confirms Brody's worst fears. With the danger impossible to ignore any longer, the town hires the eccentric but highly experienced shark hunter Quint to track down and destroy the creature before it kills again.

The unlikely trio set sail aboard Quint's ageing fishing boat, Orca, embarking on a dangerous hunt that quickly turns into a battle for survival. Isolated at sea and facing a predator far larger and more intelligent than any of them expected, Brody, Hooper and Quint soon discover that they're the ones being hunted.

Picture & Sound

The restored transfer is nothing short of remarkable. Considering the film's age I was expecting a rather tired, grainy presentation, but Universal have produced a wonderfully clean image packed with detail, vibrant colours and very little in the way of visible print damage. Compression artefacts are virtually non-existent and the transfer easily exceeds my expectations.

The original mono soundtrack has been remixed into Dolby Digital 5.1 and, whilst it understandably lacks the aggressive low-frequency effects found on more modern films, the results are surprisingly impressive. John Williams' legendary score fills the front soundstage beautifully, whilst the surrounds are used effectively for waves, splashes and the occasional shock. It's a respectful remix that enhances rather than overwhelms the original soundtrack.

Menu & Extras

The extras are well worth exploring. The excellent fifty-minute documentary offers a fascinating look at the notoriously troubled production, whilst the deleted scenes, outtakes and production galleries provide plenty of additional material for fans. The only real omission is an audio commentary, although given Spielberg's reluctance to record them, that was probably never a realistic expectation.

Overall

Even after all these years, Jaws remains a masterclass in building suspense. Yes, modern audiences may occasionally smile at the mechanical shark, but Spielberg cleverly keeps it off-screen for much of the film, allowing your imagination to do far more work than any special effect ever could. The result is a thriller that still manages to generate genuine tension decades after its original release.

The performances are uniformly excellent, particularly Roy Scheider's quietly determined Brody, Richard Dreyfuss' enthusiastic Hooper and Robert Shaw's unforgettable Quint. Their chemistry during the final act aboard the Orca is superb, culminating in one of cinema's greatest adventure finales.

John Williams' Academy Award-winning score deserves a special mention. Those famous two notes have become one of the most recognisable pieces of film music ever written and, speaking from experience, they're more than capable of making you reconsider a relaxing swim in the sea. During one summer holiday I found myself happily swimming in calm water when that theme suddenly popped into my head. Needless to say, I turned around and headed straight back to the beach rather quickly!

Jaws practically invented the modern summer blockbuster and remains every bit as entertaining today as it was in 1975. Backed by an outstanding transfer and an excellent selection of extras, this DVD deserves a place in every film collection. Just do yourself a favour and avoid the increasingly inferior sequels, which never come close to capturing the magic of the original.