JAWS IV
US, 1987, 91 minutes, Colour.
Larraine Gary, Lance Guest, Mario Van Peebles, Michael Caine, Karen Young, Lynn Whitfield, Melvin Van Peebles.
Directed by Joseph Sargent.
Jaws IV is an enjoyable, though unnecessary, sequel in the series started by the excellent original in 1975. The second was more or less a repeat of the first, the third had the technique of 3D (and a different cast portraying the Brody sons). The fourth has Lorraine Gary from the original, now a widow. There are photos of Roy Scheider and some flashbacks to remind us of him. She feels that the shark has a quest of vendetta against the family. One of her sons is skilled. The other, Lance Guest, asks her to come away to the Bahamas. Contrary to expectation (except the audience's), the shark turns up and there is a final confrontation. Apparently, some of the characters were killed in the American original, but it was considered too downbeat. Michael Caine and Mario van Peebles look the candidates for death -but now suddenly reappear. The film is quite good, nothing unexpected with Michael Caine as a Bahamas gambler and pilot.
1. Enjoyable? The reason for the fourth in the series? new audience?
2. The background of Amity, the locations of the Bahamas? Style? The credibility of the effects for the shark? Stunts? John Williams' score?
3. The plot and the re-run of the original, the variations? Presuppositions concerning incidents and characters? The flashbacks to Roy Scheider and the original? The shark - and a credible revenge?
4. Amity and the celebration of Christmas, the Brodie household, memories, the incident, Sean going to fix things in the A death (and the Christmas carols)?
5. Ellen and her reaction, her theories? Michael and Carla and their arrival, Thea? The funeral? memories? Michael's work, Ellen's grief? Their talk together? Her trying to persuade him to give up his work?
6. Michael persuading Ellen to go to the Bahamas? meeting Toagie? The flight in? Settling? Ellen unwinding? Yet her fears and dreams? Going for a swim? her being harsh to the family? Learning to relax? Hoagie and sharing the life on the island, the nightclubs, dancing, gambling? Carla and Thea?
7. Michael and Jake and their work? the friendship between the two families? The buddies? Michael and his family, and memories of his father - imitating his father mimicking the child? Their study, the sea, the underwater sequences? The arrival of the shark? The attacks, concealing the truth?
8. The holiday, people in the water, the dedication of the sculpture, Thea on the beach? The attack and the fear, rescuing Thea?
9. Ellen's reaction, the boat? Michael and Jake and their pursuit? the plane? Their converging, the attack? Some of the characters seeming to be killed - and then reappearing? Ellen impaling the shark?
10. A satisfactory resolution of the question? Further revenge?
11. Audiences responding to scare, menace, disaster?
