Case Study: Jaws
Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, is crossover of both thriller and horror genre. Thrillers create tension and suspense, keeping the audience on edge. Horror films focus on fear, danger, and survival, often using a scary villain or monster. Whilst Jaws is not a typical horror film with ghosts or supernatural creatures, it uses a real-life threat to create fear.
The setting of the film also follows typical conventions. Many horror and thriller films take place in quiet, peaceful locations that suddenly become dangerous. Amity Island is a small beach town, full of tourists enjoying the summer. However, the sharkâs attacks turn the island into a place of fear. The film also uses isolation to build suspense, another key element of the thriller genre.
Dark lighting and shadows create mystery, especially in underwater scenes, where the shark is hidden. The film also uses point-of-view shots, where the camera shows what the shark "sees" as it moves through the water. This makes the audience feel like the next victim, increasing the tension.
Photo by American Cinematographer.
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