The salt spray almost feels real, doesn't it? There's a chill that settles deep in your bones when you revisit Amity Island, even decades later on a flickering screen. It’s not just the memory of Steven Spielberg's original masterpiece casting a long shadow; Jaws 2 carries its own distinct flavour of unease. It’s the unsettling feeling of déjà vu, the horrifying thought that lightning – or rather, a Great White – could actually strike twice in the same damn place. Seeing that familiar fin cut through the water again on grainy VHS… it tapped into a primal fear that the first film had so expertly unearthed.
Return to Troubled Waters
You can almost feel Chief Brody’s exhaustion radiating off the screen. Roy Scheider, reportedly drawn back into the Amity nightmare through contractual obligations rather than burning desire, channels that weariness into a performance that anchors the entire film. He’s seen the abyss, stared into the unblinking eye of the predator, and now he sees shadows in every wave crest. His paranoia, dismissed by the perpetually shortsighted Mayor Vaughn (Murray Hamilton, reprising his role with infuriating denial), becomes our paranoia. We know he's right, and watching his warnings fall on deaf ears creates a specific kind of dread – the frustration of knowing disaster is coming and being powerless to stop it. It's rumoured Scheider had numerous clashes on set, particularly with director Jeannot Szwarc (Somewhere in Time), perhaps mirroring Brody's own battles against disbelief.
A Different Beast
Let's be clear: this isn't Jaws. The initial director, John D. Hancock (Let's Scare Jessica to Death), was fired early on, allegedly aiming for an even darker, more Amity-focused story. Jeannot Szwarc, stepping in under immense pressure, delivered something different: less suggestion, more direct confrontation. The slow-burn terror is often replaced with more frequent, arguably more conventional, attack sequences. Yet, Szwarc, with a background in atmospheric TV like Night Gallery, still crafts moments of genuine tension. Remember the chilling sight of the burnt shark corpse early on? Or the Orca replica glimpsed beneath the waves? These images stick, unsettling reminders of the violence lurking beneath the picturesque surface. The shift in focus towards the teenage sailing crowd almost nudges Jaws 2 towards the burgeoning slasher territory of the late 70s/early 80s, preying on youthful recklessness rather than the broader community fear of the original.
Brucette Makes Her Entrance
The shark itself feels different too. Nicknamed "Brucette" by the crew, the mechanical star (still notoriously temperamental, though perhaps less so than the original "Bruce") looks meaner, scarred, almost vengeful. Its appearances are less fleeting, more brazen. The opening attack on the water skiers remains a jolt, setting a relentless tone. The helicopter sequence, while perhaps straining credulity for some, is pure B-movie spectacle – audacious and unforgettable on a late-night watch. The practical effects, viewed now, might show their seams, but back then? On a rented tape, that scarred visage lunging from the murky depths felt terrifyingly real. Didn't that shot of the shark surfacing right beside the teenage catamaran still send a shiver down your spine?
The Echoes of Fear
John Williams returns, his iconic theme instantly re-establishing the threat, though the score overall feels less nuanced, more overtly geared towards action cues. Yet, those familiar notes still work their dark magic. The sound design, particularly the underwater groans and the sudden chaos of an attack, remains effective in building suspense. The film leans heavily on Scheider’s performance and the inherent terror of the premise. While Lorraine Gary gets a slightly expanded role as Ellen Brody, and the teen cast serves primarily as potential chum, it’s Scheider’s haunted determination that keeps us invested.
Jaws 2 often lives in the shadow of its monumental predecessor, and perhaps unfairly so. Taken on its own terms, it’s a remarkably solid B-movie creature feature, a well-crafted sequel that delivers genuine thrills and some truly memorable set pieces. It lacks the artistry and primal fear of Spielberg's film, opting for a higher body count and more straightforward action, but it understands the core appeal: the vulnerability of humans in the vast, unforgiving ocean. Watching it again taps directly into those memories of summer blockbuster anticipation, of seeing that familiar poster art promising a return to the terror.
Rating: 6/10
Justification: While lacking the groundbreaking suspense and character depth of the original, Jaws 2 is a competent and often genuinely tense sequel carried by Roy Scheider's committed performance. Its memorable attack sequences, the effective (if more overt) use of the shark, and the pervasive sense of Brody's isolation elevate it above typical cash-in territory. It suffers from sequel-itis – needing to be bigger and bloodier – but it still delivers effective thrills that resonated strongly in the VHS era.
Final Thought: It may not have redefined the blockbuster, but Jaws 2 proved that sometimes, going back in the water, despite everything your gut tells you, could still make for one hell of a scary ride home from the video store.