In the horror realm, “Jaws 2” is often the abandoned stepchild of a much better first film. In a way, there’s little to argue in comparison. “Jaws” makes my top two films of all time list, pulling ahead of John Carpenter’s “Halloween.” Its nuances, its chemistry, its allure and fright: all make it a phenomenal picture, not rivaled since by a creature feature.
But “Jaws 2” isn’t bad. Not at all. Yes, it’s cash-grab and a sequel that steps away from the original. It turns a thorough, fear-inducing survival story into a slasher film with the shark as the killer. It features a lot of dead teens. But it does enough right that its audience dislike (38% on Rotten Tomatoes) seems misplaced. After all, the film brings back most of the original players (Roy Scheider, Murray Hamilton, Lorraine Gary, Jeffery Kramer), takes place in the same ill-shadowed port of Amity Island, and manages to capture all the ‘70s vibes that made the original awesome. And it gives Brody an arc; you’ve got to give it credit for that.
The Shark is Back; and so is the Atmosphere
Some may know the backstory of “Jaws 2.” Spielberg, who directed the first to perfection, wanted to make a movie about the fated USS Indianapolis. He was turned down in lieu of a movie that studios felt people wanted to see. Seeing as how a USS Indianapolis film was made, and it did poorly, was this the right decision? We’ll never know. But what “Jaws 2” does is create a straight sequel, a marketable sequel; and while it doesn’t strive for the artisanship of the first, it’s still by no means a bad movie.
The high points of the film are its atmosphere and feel, which mirror the first. At the film’s opening we see Chief Brody taking the same Chappaquiddick ferry to a charity event his wife has thrown off a sandy beach. Mayor Vaughn (Hamilton) is there, and it seems nothing much has changed in Amity. Brody’s son Mike (Mark Gruner) is grown to about 17, and the film busies itself with him being a teenager, breaking the rules, etc. His younger son Sean (Marc Gilpin) is enamored with Mike and the ocean; everyone in Amity is. But it’s not long before a new shark makes its way in, and Brody, once again, is ignored as he warns of danger.
A Nuanced Chief Brody, and a Town that Hasn’t Really Changed
To talk about the elephant in the room, what doesn’t work about “Jaws 2” is the film loses something without Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw. The three (Brody combined) had a chemistry that made the first picture that much more cohesive. Director Jeannot Szwarc does his best to build Brody’s relationship with his wife and kids; and in part, it works. He also builds strife between Brody and ‘Peterson’ (Joseph Mascolo), a businessman and councilman who takes umbrage to Brody waving guns on beaches and warning of sharks. A scene after a heated argument between Brody and the town government is especially hurtful. Scheider reprises his role well, and there’s not a missed step here.
There’s also the lack of an intricate plot, and “Jaws 2” basically becomes what films like “Friday the 13th” and “Halloween” would become. A group of teenagers day-sailing become endangered by the shark, which is much more aggressive this time around. But since “Jaws 2” predated most of the slasher sequels that followed, is that really a criticism?
All-in-all a Fun Film
Most of the elements that worked in part 1 work here. John Williams reprises his score, which is not utilized to the effect it was before, but still works. There’s a couple of tense scenes, notably a diving group that meets the shark and a double killing by ‘Jaws’ that is the series’ worst. Szwarc doesn’t keep the shark in enigma as Spielberg did; this time around it’s pure menace. And most of the acting is on point. The kids here don’t act aloof, but rather petrified. Some are angry, others are scared, and some deal with straight-up PTSD. It’s a welcome change from the fall down running teenagers in some of the slashers that would become famous in the ‘80s.
But all-in-all, “Jaws 2” is just fun. It recreates the atmosphere that made the original immortal, and again makes Amity a cautionary tale for what happens when you ignore bigger problems in lieu of tourist dollars. The town—and actors—are believable, and it escapes this writer what made people dislike “Jaws 2” so much. Sure it’s no part 1, but it’s passable…actually downright enjoyable. The film has a special place in my heart as I caught it many times on TV growing up. But seeing how bad “Jaws 3” would end up, and how ludicrous “Jaws: the Revenge” was, it’s nice to look back on “Jaws 2” with fond remembrance. The film looks nice, watches easily, and has a feel—and an ending—on par with what came before. And it’s hard to find fault with that.
You can watch “Jaws 2” on Prime Video, Apple TV, VUDU, Vudu Movie & TV Store or Redbox.
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