Retro Blood 196: Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

Join James Kline and J.H. Alison as Retro Blood continues its dive into 1980s Shark Horror with the final chapter in the Jaws franchise—Jaws: The Revenge (1987).

Often slammed as one of the worst sequels of all time, Jaws: The Revenge gets a second look from the Retro Blood crew, who both kind of defend it! Is it perfect? No. Is it entertaining? Absolutely.

🦈 In this episode:

• Initial thoughts on the movie’s reputation, the strange shift in tone, and how this film might be more fun than you remember.

• Plot highlights include:

  • The Brody family once again haunted by shark attacks—this time with telepathic revenge.

  • A grieving Ellen Brody who feels the shark’s presence.

  • A sudden move to the Bahamas where Michael Brody works with conchs and dolphins.

  • A shark that follows them to the Caribbean—and yes, it growls.

  • That infamous ending… and its alternate versions.

🎸 History Segment (July 17, 1987):

• Pro Wrestling: James shares a look at a stacked WWF house show in New York featuring major tag teams of the era.

• Metal: Alison and James discuss Great White’s album Once Bitten, with very different takes on the band’s place in the '80s metal scene.

🎬 Behind the Scenes:

• Director Joseph Sargent faced serious pressure to deliver quickly—leading to rushed ideas, like the infamous voodoo subplot that was largely removed.

• Lorraine Gary returns as Ellen Brody after retiring, driven by personal connections and a desire to close the series.

• Michael Caine stars as Hoagie, the charismatic pilot—famously quipping that he’s never seen the movie, but he did see the house it bought.

• The tragic real-life story of Judith Barsi, who played young Thea, adds emotional weight to the film’s legacy.

• Plus: the erased drug smuggling plot, the official movie novelization, and even more strange facts about the franchise finale.

Then, it's the full Retro Blood breakdown—sharks leaping out of the water, slow-motion attacks, awkward family drama, weird shark logic, and the revenge no one saw coming.

🎧 Whether you're a Jaws completist or just in it for the carnage, this one's for you.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

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