JAWS: THE REVENGE – When the Shark Comes Back for Blood
JAWS: The Revenge (1987) is the fourth and final installment in the iconic Jaws franchise—a series that began with Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking 1975 original. Directed by Joseph Sargent, this chapter takes a highly personal and, at times, implausible turn as it attempts to bring emotional closure to the Brody family, the long-suffering victims of the great white terror. The tagline boldly claims, "This time, it’s personal," and the film does its best to live up to it—whether for better or worse.
The story centers around Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary), the widow of Chief Martin Brody, who believes that the great white sharks tormenting her family over the years are more than just coincidence. After her youngest son Sean—now a deputy in Amity—is killed by a shark in a chilling opening scene, Ellen becomes convinced that the creature is deliberately targeting her family. Shaken and grief-stricken, she travels to the Bahamas to stay with her eldest son, Michael, a marine biologist, hoping to escape the nightmare.
But the nightmare follows her.
In a bizarre twist, a great white shark somehow tracks the Brody family to the warm waters of the Caribbean—far from its usual hunting grounds. As Michael and his team study conchs and other marine life, the shark begins a new wave of attacks, culminating in a final showdown between Ellen and the monster that has haunted her family for years.
What sets JAWS: The Revenge apart from its predecessors is its attempt to blend shark thriller elements with supernatural and emotional overtones. The idea of a vengeful, possibly sentient shark following a family across thousands of miles is a major departure from the grounded realism of the first film. The movie dives into Ellen's trauma, presenting the shark as a symbol of her unresolved grief and fears—though it’s never fully clear if the film wants viewers to take this literally or metaphorically.
Lorraine Gary gives a strong, committed performance as Ellen, stepping into the protagonist role for the first time in the series. Her portrayal of a woman unraveling yet determined to confront the nightmare head-on adds a layer of emotional depth, even as the plot veers into questionable territory. Mario Van Peebles brings charisma as Michael’s friend Jake, and Michael Caine, as the charming pilot Hoagie, offers levity and smooth delivery, famously appearing in the film despite never seeing the finished product—famously quipping, “I have never seen it, but by all accounts, it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific.”
Visually, the film struggles. The mechanical shark looks less convincing than ever, and the editing lacks the taut suspense that made the original Jaws a masterpiece of pacing. The final sequence, involving Ellen steering a boat into the shark’s jaws, has multiple versions (depending on which release is watched) and often defies logic.
In conclusion, JAWS: The Revenge is a strange and flawed end to a legendary franchise. It tries to tie up emotional arcs with a bizarre mix of horror, drama, and fantasy, resulting in a film that’s often mocked but undeniably fascinating in its ambition. While it may not reach the heights of Spielberg’s classic, it has gained a cult following for its audacity and unique place in shark movie history. Whether you love it or laugh at it, this time… it is personal.
