Is Jaws a horror movie?

[zuniman]

Is Jaws a horror movie? I say definetly yes! For years i have had countless conversations with people who love Jaws but are insulted at the thought of it being considered a horror movie. What 's the problem? Well, i think it has to do with Horror not being taken seriously by the average movie fan. Horror movies are looked at by many people ( mostly people who won't watch a movie unless it has a 100 million dollar budget) as a disease in the movie industry. But who really cares what they think, i know i don't but it irritates me alittle when a movie like Jaws, possibly the greatest movie ever in my opinion is considered anything but a horror movie. What can be more horror than a killer rogue shark terrorizing and eating anyone that goes in the water. There was plenty of gore scenes alone that make it horror. If anything i like to consider it a creature feature type horror movie due to the exageration of the shark and it's willingness to eat people. Does anyone feel like i do about Jaws not being considered a horror movie, wrong or what?

[SteeleDude]

Yeah, it's a horror. It's about a giant shark rampaging around. Horror fans shouldn't dismiss it, because ultimately if you eliminate it from the realm of horror its most likely because of the fantastic character development. Horror can and should be associated with good character development.

To say Jaws is not horror is a slam on horror itself. Horror is not so bad it cannot have a fantastic movie in it.

[RandalGraves]

Yea it was voted #1 horror movie on either tmc or vh1s show on horror movies...so I guess it is...but I don't really consider it a horror movie myself.

[Lost in Space]

personally, no i dont think it qualifies

[Slausen]

Yeah, it's horror. No Drama, Thriller or Adventure. In any case a mix, but principally horror.

[thedamnwolfman]

Why wouldn't it be?

[Vinegar]

Hells yeah, one of the best!

[PSU80]

Jaws is definitely a horror movie and one of the best ever at that. Don't get confused into thinking it's not horror just because nobody is being tortured or gang-banged.

[poopontheshoes7]

Damn right its horror! Best horror movie ever made! As well as best movie ever made!

JAWS #1!!!

[LedZeppelin1114]

I think with as much fear as it has produced in so many people, I think it is definitely a horror flick. I still would put The Exorcist and The Shining above it, but it is still a terrific film.

[PSU80]

Yeah The Shining is without question one of the scariest movies ever.

[ParileseMonster]

I do not even care how people lable it, to me it has everything you could want in a flick and I love it. This movie theatre here does retro thursday nights and Jaws is on the bill this week, shit yeah I am going! :D Big Screen Baby!

[DocPhosphorus]

Originally posted by ParileseMonster
I do not even care how people lable it, to me it has everything you could want in a flick and I love it. This movie theatre here does retro thursday nights and Jaws is on the bill this week, shit yeah I am going! :D Big Screen Baby!

lucky bastard

[ParileseMonster]

Doc, if you were local I would have taken you, it was beautiful to see it on the big screen with killer sound! If you ever get the opportunity and I hope you do, go for it!
There were a few douche bags in the crowd but it was a good way to spend and evening and five bucks!

[the dead one]

I saw JAWS when it hit the big screen back in 75'....

Now, as to this discussion of Spielberg’s film…

The topic is a good one and worth exploring, whether JAWS could be classified as a horror film. Lets look at the films opening moments; the shark attack scene is brilliantly executed and tightly edited; the direction by Spielberg here is spot on. This is memorable stuff as Chrissie 1st gets pulled under, then being pushed and pulled, her high-pitched screams of terror thrashing about. Now that could be considered pretty horrific stuff, but I wouldn’t classify JAWS as a horror film. Although it did usher in the age of the 'Summer Blockbusters'...

I lean towards Drama, with elements of suspense and horror. When you really look at the film most of the scenes involving the shark attacks (with the exception of Alex on the raft, the guy getting his leg bit off and Roberts Shaw’s demise) are fairly bloodless, the horror is implied. When the audience completes what they don’t see in their heads, it can actually be more visceral then anything an effects person can throw up on the screen. Real horror starts in the mind, tapping into our primal fears and phobias like being attacked by a shark. Remember the impact afterwards, a lot of people were afraid to go swimming in the ocean waters after seeing this film.

[Warlok]

Is Jaws a horror movie or not? That question can lead to others. I mean, you could then take and apply the same question to Pirahna, The Roger Corman classic and Jaws rip-off? Is it a horror movie?
Personally I think both are horror movies. but can be defined in other ways too. Take Jurassic Park as an example. That would be an Action/Sci-Fi/Horror. It can fit in all 3 categories

[robk]

Is Jaws a horror film?
As far as I'm concerned, it is.
It has bone-chilling music, and a fair amount of blood.
In fact, I'm still surprised the MPAA didn't give it an R rating.
Plus the fact that in basically every list of great horror films I've ever come across, Jaws is included and is ranked quite highly.

[miceland1]

I say yes. It is scary. It gets you to think twice about swimming in the ocean. It even has a little Jason-esque vengance on the drunk skinny dippers.

There is not a lot of fantasy in this movie but not all good horror has to have fantasy, ghosts, or werewolves, etc.

Horror movies should at least try to scare you. This one succeeded for a lot of folks and I think qualifies. It could also be considered an action movie due to the esplosion (sic).

Action-Horror. yeah I think you consider it that.

[JackassFan]

Yep, it most certainly is. And a real classic one, too.

[DaRkToOtH]

of coarse it is!!! sure it does well with the dramatic aspects and all but it has over 3 kills (dosnt that alone make it a horror movie?), lots of blood, some of the BEST scares in modern cinemea. to not call it a horror movie is a shame.

i know alot of ppl that call it a "thriller", is that considered a type of horror?

[ERIN_LoJ]

Yes, yes, YES.

It scares doesn't it? Who was afraid to go into the water after this movie? Not having much blood, etc., doesnt matter. It's rating, being shown on TV, doesn't either. Great movie

[herminator]

Originally posted by DaRkToOtH
of coarse it is!!! sure it does well with the dramatic aspects and all but it has over 3 kills (dosnt that alone make it a horror movie?), lots of blood, some of the BEST scares in modern cinemea. to not call it a horror movie is a shame.

i know alot of ppl that call it a "thriller", is that considered a type of horror?

So with this said, are lethal weapon, and casino royale horror flicks?

[Hans, wihout Franz]

yes, definately, you might even want to put a few other Speilberg movies on there like Jurassic Park or Gremlins. Shoot I even can start a debate on a few disney films.

[herminator]

I was holding off on the disney....but ....lol

[The Pin]

Originally posted by ParileseMonster
Doc, if you were local I would have taken you, it was beautiful to see it on the big screen with killer sound! If you ever get the opportunity and I hope you do, go for it!
There were a few douche bags in the crowd but it was a good way to spend and evening and five bucks!

If you live in Minnesota I was also totally there. Jaws on that ultra-screen was one of the coolest things ever.