Remember The Kill?

MITCHELL ANDERSON REFLECTS ON 30 YEARS OF JAWS: THE REVENGE

- Paul Downey

Jaws: The Revenge is one of those films that will be forever engrained in the zeitgeist of monster movie cinema. Although it was universally panned by critics at the time, in the 30 years since its release it has taken on a life of its own, and has now become a cult favourite of fans of the shark series. But what was it like for those acting in it? SCREAM recently got the opportunity to ask Mitchell Anderson, who played Sean Brody in the film, some questions.

The character who survived 3 attempts on his life from the previous films, finally met his match in the opening minutes of Revenge, in what was considered one of the most violent death scenes of the entire franchise.

“We did most of the exterior long shots in January in Martha’s Vineyard, and it was cold!” Anderson joked. The only shot which wasn’t performed by a stuntman was the final one where Sean is dragged under for the final time, a fact he is most proud of.

“The special effects people worked to make it as graphic as possible. They rigged a blood tube and pump around my back and out my sleeve where the shark bit my arm off. The night we did that close up, it was about 20 degrees and 3am, and I remember freezing my ass off!,” he shared.

“I do think that one shot when Sean realises his arm is gone, is pretty real. Even now when I see it, it gives me chills.” It wasn’t just the fans who found Sean’s death disturbing, Anderson’s own mother actually cried for the rest of the film after his death scene. “She still talks about how difficult it was to see that,” The 55 year old added.