Summary
Spielberg requested that the production designer limit the use of red in the sets of Jaws to avoid overpowering the color of blood and to enhance foreshadowing.
The absence of red in the film's sets is purposeful as Jaws creates tension by hinting and stimulating the viewer's imagination instead of relying on explicit visuals.
Through strategically incorporating fragments of red in the movie, Spielberg allows for the shock and intensity of the bloodiest moments, ultimately establishing Jaws as an enduring masterpiece in the genre of horror and suspense.
Steven Spielberg shares the unusual request he made to the production designer for Jaws. Released in 1975, Jaws remains one of Spielberg's most beloved and iconic suspense films. It continues to be shown in theaters that screen classic movies and even had an IMAX re-release in 2022.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Spielberg reveals that he asked the production designer to limit the use of red in the film. He specifically wanted to avoid having red dominating the sets. Instead, he wanted a subtle amount of red that would create a sense of foreshadowing without overwhelming the scenes. Read Spielberg's complete statement below:
"Yes, I specifically requested that red not dominate any of the sets for Jaws. I communicated to Joe [Alves], the designer, my preference for minimal use of red in the overall color scheme, except for instances involving blood. And for the most part, we adhered to that directive. The Kintner boy's bathing suit was red, and there was a scene at the dinner table where Hooper and Brody had red wine, which served as both symbolism and foreshadowing."
Why Spielberg’s Red Request Makes Sense
The request is somewhat ironic considering that Jaws is a film that revolves around a monstrous shark decimating the peaceful inhabitants of a beach town. Whether intentionally or not, Alves incorporated red as a crucial component in Jaws. It is the color that represents the blood in the water, the color of death. Red signifies the terrifying presence of the menacing creature at the heart of Jaws' horror.
Examining the mechanics of Jaws reveals the reasoning behind the limited use of the color red. Jaws effectively creates suspense by suggesting and leaving the audience to imagine the presence of the shark. The iconic opening scene exemplifies this technique as viewers are introduced to a potential threat through the perspective of a night swimmer, paired with the intense score by John Williams. Rather than overwhelming the audience with an abundance of red, which could overshadow the horror of the most significant use of red: blood, Steven Spielberg chose to subtly incorporate the color. This approach allows the red to infiltrate the audience's mind without overpowering, thus leaving space for the shocking and blood-filled scenes that solidify Jaws as a timeless masterpiece of horror and suspense.
Source: Vanity Fair
