Gory Scene of Child Eating Deleted from ‘Jaws’

Steven Spielberg’s 1975 release of Jaws introduced millions to the terrifying world of killer great white sharks. The renowned filmmaker, along with Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw, crafted a nerve-wracking high-sea adventure that left an indelible mark on cinema.

One of the most unforgettable scenes in the film involves a child being snatched by the massive sea creature, prompting his grieving mother to place a $3,000 bounty on the shark. This tragic event revolves around a youngster named Alex Kitner, who gets devoured by the great white shark while floating on a raft. Although the final cut of the movie hinted at the horror, the original scene was far more gruesome.

Few know that the initial version of this scene was incredibly disturbing. It featured the great white shark tearing Kitner apart in graphic detail. A black and white photo from this cut surfaced on social media, showing the shark about to clamp its jaws on Kitner, who lay on the raft helplessly.

The photo provides a chilling glimpse into what the original scene entailed, leaving fans to speculate about what was ultimately cut from the film. Spielberg opted to remove this graphic portrayal to keep the shark’s full appearance a surprise until later in the movie, enhancing the suspense.

Unfortunately, no footage of this original, more graphic scene exists today. However, behind-the-scenes snippets are featured in the documentary The Shark Is Still Working, available on the 40th anniversary Blu-ray of Jaws.

Given that Jaws was a PG-rated movie, most of its kill scenes were bloodless, amplifying the overall suspense. Including Kitner’s brutal demise would have likely changed the movie’s rating, limiting its audience—a move Spielberg clearly didn’t want to make.

Nearly five decades later, Jaws continues to captivate audiences. Richard Dreyfuss returns in a sequel titled Into The Deep, which follows a group of divers on a treasure hunt at the bottom of the sea.

Source: Particle News