Jaws: Shared Terror

Why does Jaws still make people afraid to go in the water? And how did a broken mechanical shark help Steven Spielberg create one of cinema’s most enduring suspense films? Heather talks with Columbus film commissioner John Daugherty about Jaws, the 1975 thriller that helped define the summer blockbuster. They explore Spielberg’s suspenseful direction, the shark’s limited screen time, John Williams’s unforgettable score, the film’s human performances, and the childhood fear that can linger long after the credits. They also discuss why horror movies can be so thrilling in a theater, how audience reactions turn a screening into a shared experience, and why low-budget genre films continue to attract filmmakers and investors. Subscribe for thoughtful conversations about movies, the moments that stay with us, and what films can teach us about how we see the world.