Watch: Why the Beach Scene in 'Jaws' Still Terrifies

Forty years after Jaws premiered in theaters, Steven Spielberg’s horror film still makes audiences think twice about going into the ocean. Arguably the movie’s scariest moment is the shark’s second kill, the chomping of a boy on a raft during a sunny day at the crowded beach.  In the video above, the new web series The Discarded Image takes a deep dive into that iconic and chilling beach scene. Using clips from films that influenced Spielberg, notably the work of Alfred Hitchcock, the video explores how the director builds a sense of dread, leading up to the horrifying climax, as blood spreads across the water. As the video’s narrator notes, later Spielberg films like Jurassic Park also feature children in peril, but the director goes to great lengths to ensure their survival. That’s why this Jaws scene remains one of the most shocking of his long career. “Because I was younger, I was more courageous,” the director explains in an interview featured in the episode. “Or I was more stupid. I’m not sure which.” To see the original beach scene without edits and commentary, go here.