Which JAWS movie is the most gruesome and violent?
Hello, Islanders,
Up until 1985, there were only four film ratings in the United States – G (for all audiences), PG (parental guidance suggested), R (you had to be 17 years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian) and X (no one under 18 admitted). The X rating was pretty much the kiss of death for films as most newspapers would not accept advertising for them.
1969’s Midnight Cowboy was a rare exception, becoming the only X-rated film to not only be nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award but actually win. It’s look at the very seedy Times Square lifestyle of the late 60s, including prostitution and homosexuality – earned the film that rating. In 1971, to capitalize on the Oscars and to encourage a larger audience, the film was pulled from theatres for sixty-days. It was then resubmitted to the ratings board where it received an “R” rating.
Fifteen years later, two films were released that pushed the PG rating to its limit. Gremlins, which featured a creature being put into a microwave oven and exploding and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which featured a man’s heart being ripped from his body, upset many parents who took their youngsters to see a presumably kid-friendly film. The films also had one big thing in common – Steven Spielberg – whose name guaranteed big box office, especially if the kiddies could attend. That winter a new rating, PG 13, was created. Some trivia – while Red Dawn was the first film RELEASED with the PG 13 rating, the first film to actually receive the rating was The Flamingo Kid.
So I’m sure you’ve read this and are wondering, “gee, Michael, that’s a hell of a lot of information. What’s the point?” I’m glad you asked.
When JAWS was released, it was with a PG rating. However, the film also carried a disclaimer, “May be too Intense for younger children.” Producer David Brown has noted in interviews that the film originally received an R rating. However, after editing a few frames out of the “leg floating to the bottom of the ocean” scene, and convincing the board that they weren’t glorifying the violence, this is what sharks do, the film received the PG rating.
JAWS 2 and JAWS 3-D also received PG ratings, while JAWS the Revenge was given a PG 13. In deciding which film was the most violent/gruesome I had to do one thing, which was throw out, for lack of a better word, terror. While The Exorcist certainly has some violent scenes, they pale in comparison to some of the “horror” films of today, which feature multiple body parts being lopped off at a regular pace. Yet, despite the gratuitous violence, The Exorcist remains, in my opinion, the scariest film ever made. So, terror aside, which film is the most violent/gruesome? My list, in reverse order:
4. JAWS 3-D
I love Joe Alves and consider him a friend but I’ve always felt that the 3-D aspect of the film almost diluted the on-screen carnage. So much so that I had to rewatch the film because none of the “deaths” stood out enough in my mind for me to easily recall. Shelby Overman’s floating arm? Rip off of the estuary victim in JAWS. Two divers? JAWS 2. FitzRoyce. OK, that one is pretty cool. TOTAL KILLS – 5. Score: 5 out of 10.
3. JAWS The Revenge
This film takes a lot of crap from a lot of people, and most of it is deserved. But, thanks to Sean Brody’s death scene and the banana boat attack, I can’t NOT watch this film if I catch it on television. TOTAL KILLS – 2. Score: 6 out of 10.
2. JAWS 2
the opening attack on the divers is ok but the quick cuts by the film editor pretty much remove any gruesomeness. The water skier/speed boat driver combo is a great scene but, again, Neil Travis’ editing takes a lot off the screen. If you’re not counting people, the killer whale scene is pretty gruesome. Finally the kids get out on the water and the shark meets Tina and Eddie. When the shark grabs Eddie below the surface and propels him across the water towards the boat, climaxing in a loud THUD when Eddie slams into the side, is quite violent. Add the redness of the water as he is pulled below and you’ve got a fairly gruesome scene. Later on, the shark also takes care of our dear Marge and the helicopter pilot, but while intense, those scenes are not gruesome. I can’t help but wonder it, actually having the original film almost receive an R rating the producers were quite cautious in what they allowed to be filmed. There are stills available of an 8th victim, Bob, being attacked but the scene, though filmed, was never used. TOTAL KILLS (not counting the whale) – 8. Score: 8 out of 10.
1. JAWS
Of course the first film is the best. Beginning with Chrissie’s violent death, her body thrashing back and forth across the water. Alex Kintner pulled underwater by an unseen force, screaming under water while blood rises to the surface. Ben Gardner’s severed head popping out of the bottom of the boat. The esturary victim’s leg, floating gently to the bottom and, of course, Quint, trapped between rows and rows of teeth, violently stabbing at the shark until, with one final bite, he spews blood from his mouth. Pretty gruesome, wouldn’t you say. TOTAL KILLS – 5 (I, of course, maintain 6 when you factor in Ben Gardner’s mate, 7 if you include Pipit). Score: 10 out of 10.
Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.
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