Apart from
Bernard Herrmann's Psycho theme, there is no movie music more ominous and chilling than
John Williams' two-note Jaws motif. While each successive sequel blunted the impact of the Jaws franchise as a whole,
Williams'
Jaws 2 score is nevertheless a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, retaining the sinister ambience while boosting its kinetic intensity. For better or for worse, Jaws 2 beats the original for undersea action and carnage, and
Williams clearly relishes the opportunity to capture the bloodshed. Cues like "Attack on the Helicopter" and "The Water Kite Sequence" employ shrieking strings and unnervingly robust percussion to striking effect, while "The Catamaran Race" proves surprisingly rousing, perfectly capturing the spirit of competition. Best of all, the classic Jaws theme proves its durability and flexibility with a series of variations that all boast serious teeth. ~ Jason Ankeny