Horrorthon'08: JAWS 2 (1978)
Directed by some guy whose name I can't even remember, this sequel certainly doesn't scale the heights of Spielberg's classic original.
Although Roy Scheider's back and as reliable as ever, the rest of the cast in this retread of the original offer nothing. Gone is the focus on Scheider, instead giving far more time to annoying kids and teen romance. It's almost a foreshadowing of the formula that would dominate 80s movies - and there's even a nasty property developer, surely the mainstay villain of all 80s films.
As if that wasn't enough of a mis-step, there's also the scenes of the shark attacks, equally botched. Spielberg knew exactly what to show and what not to show - his successor here unfortunately shows no such knowledge. We are shown far too much of the dodgy-looking shark, not enough of the hapless victims and all in all it ends up being depressingly dull for a film that should be all about sharks eating people.
A real misfire that only serves to illustrate how good the original film was.
Although Roy Scheider's back and as reliable as ever, the rest of the cast in this retread of the original offer nothing. Gone is the focus on Scheider, instead giving far more time to annoying kids and teen romance. It's almost a foreshadowing of the formula that would dominate 80s movies - and there's even a nasty property developer, surely the mainstay villain of all 80s films.
As if that wasn't enough of a mis-step, there's also the scenes of the shark attacks, equally botched. Spielberg knew exactly what to show and what not to show - his successor here unfortunately shows no such knowledge. We are shown far too much of the dodgy-looking shark, not enough of the hapless victims and all in all it ends up being depressingly dull for a film that should be all about sharks eating people.
A real misfire that only serves to illustrate how good the original film was.
Labels: Film festivals, horror, Horrorthon
posted by Alan at 8:14 pm
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