5 Shocking Details About The Alex Kintner Deleted Scene Steven Spielberg Didn't Want You To See

For nearly five decades, the terrifying, sudden death of young Alex Kintner in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece Jaws has defined the summer blockbuster and cemented the great white shark as cinema's ultimate monster. The scene, which takes place on a crowded Amity Island beach, is a masterclass in sudden horror, but what most fans don't realize is that the version they see is a significantly toned-down edit. New information and resurfaced stills from the original footage confirm the existence of a far more gruesome and explicit deleted scene—one that director Steven Spielberg himself chose to cut after a test screening.

The quest for the "full" Alex Kintner death scene has become a legendary search among horror and film enthusiasts, driven by the knowledge that the original footage was so violent it was deemed too shocking for mainstream audiences in 1975. As of late 2025, the full, raw footage remains elusive to the public, but the details of what it contained—and why it was cut—are now clearer than ever, providing a fascinating look into the early creative decisions that shaped one of the most successful films of all time.

Alex Kintner: The Boy Who Defined Amity's Nightmare

Alex Kintner is the film's second victim, and his death is arguably the turning point that forces Chief Martin Brody to confront the reality of the shark threat. Portrayed by actor Jeffrey Voorhees, Alex is a seemingly innocent boy enjoying his new yellow raft when he is suddenly attacked. While the final theatrical cut shows the boy being pulled under in a flurry of blood and screams, the original version was a visceral, bloody spectacle.

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• Character: Alex Kintner
• Actor: Jeffrey Voorhees
• Film Debut: Jaws (1975)
• Setting of Death: South Beach, Amity Island
• Cause of Death: Great White Shark Attack
• Key Plot Role: His death, witnessed by hundreds, confirms the presence of a killer shark and leads to the famous "You yell Barracuda, everybody says, 'Huh? What?' You yell shark, we’ve got a panic on our hands" quote from Mayor Larry Vaughn.
• Iconic Detail: His mother, Mrs. Kintner (Lee Fierro), later confronts Chief Brody and slaps him across the face for failing to protect the town.

The Gruesome Details of the Original Alex Kintner Death Footage

The "Alex Kintner deleted scene" isn't a completely separate scene, but rather a more explicit version of the attack that was filmed and then heavily edited down. This distinction is important, as the footage was shot but never intended for the final cut after initial reactions. The core difference lies in the level of on-screen violence and the detail shown of the mechanical shark, affectionately nicknamed "Bruce."

1. The Shark Was Shown Devouring the Child Onscreen

The most shocking revelation regarding the deleted footage is its explicit nature. Unlike the final cut, which primarily focuses on the thrashing and the resulting blood cloud, the original scene reportedly showed the shark actually consuming the child. According to accounts from those who have seen the stills and the documentary footage, the shot included the mechanical shark rolling over—a real-life shark hunting behavior—and the child's body being visibly torn apart.

This level of gore was unprecedented for a mainstream summer movie at the time and would have drastically changed the film's tone, pushing it firmly into the slasher/exploitation territory. Spielberg, even in his early career, understood the power of suggestion over graphic depiction.

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2. The 'Shark Roll' Was More Prominent and Graphic

One of the most terrifying details of a real shark attack is the way the animal will often "roll" its body to get a better bite or to disorient its prey. In the theatrical cut of Jaws, a quick shot of the shark's side rolling is visible, a detail that adds a chilling touch of realism. However, in the deleted footage, this "shark roll" was reportedly much more extended and violent, illustrating the raw power of the predator as it thrashed the young victim. This focus on the mechanical shark's realism, while impressive, ultimately worked against the scene's inclusion.

3. The Scene Was Cut After a Test Screening Reaction

The primary reason the graphic footage was cut was due to audience reaction. Steven Spielberg filmed what he considered "the most violent scene of his career" for the Alex Kintner attack. During early test screenings, the explicit nature of the child's death was deemed too shocking and gratuitous, potentially alienating a broad audience. Spielberg’s decision to remove the graphic elements was a pivotal move that preserved the film's suspenseful atmosphere. By cutting away and letting the audience's imagination fill in the blanks, he inadvertently created a more terrifying, psychologically impactful scene. This creative choice is a perfect example of how limitations (like the unreliable mechanical shark, Bruce) and self-censorship can lead to superior filmmaking.

4. Stills of the Gruesome Footage Have Surfaced Online

While the full, continuous film footage remains largely unreleased to the public, stills (single frame images) from the original, graphic take have circulated among film historians and horror enthusiasts. These images, often shared on forums like Reddit and dedicated horror sites, confirm the descriptions of the scene: a close-up, bloody depiction of the attack far beyond what was left in the final cut. The existence of these stills is the strongest evidence that the "deleted scene" is not just a rumor but a documented piece of cinema history.

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5. The Footage is Preserved in a Documentary

For those desperate to see the closest thing to the deleted footage, the key lies in the acclaimed Jaws documentary, The Shark Is Still Working. This comprehensive look at the film's production reportedly includes snippets and behind-the-scenes footage of the more violent Alex Kintner attack. While not a seamless re-insertion of the original scene, the documentary provides a crucial glimpse into what Spielberg initially captured, making it the primary source for fans seeking the truth about this legendary cut material.

The Legacy of Deleted Scenes in Jaws

The Alex Kintner scene is not the only piece of footage that was cut or altered. The search for the Kintner footage is part of a larger fascination with the lost elements of Jaws, which collectively would have created a much darker, grittier film. These deleted scenes are crucial for understanding the final product's success and topical authority.

• The Chrissie Watkins Autopsy: The film's first victim, Chrissie Watkins, had a much more detailed autopsy scene. Deleted footage shows Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) examining her remains in the medical examiner's office, providing a more gruesome, close-up look at the shark's destructive power.
• Chief Brody and Hooper's Dock Sabotage: A deleted subplot involved Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) and Hooper sneaking onto the dock to cut the ropes of a fishing boat to prevent a mass shark hunt, further illustrating Brody's growing desperation and moral conflict.
• The Pond Attack: The original script included a more violent attack in the pond where Michael Brody (Chief Brody's son) was sailing. Like the Kintner scene, this footage was also toned down, with Spielberg opting for the less graphic, more suspenseful final version.

The ultimate fate of the "full" Alex Kintner deleted scene is that it serves as a powerful reminder of Steven Spielberg's genius. By choosing restraint and focusing on the terror of the unseen, he transformed a potentially overly graphic horror film into a suspense classic that continues to terrify audiences worldwide, even nearly 50 years later. The legend of the cut footage ensures that the mystery of Amity Island's great white shark, and the fate of young Alex Kintner, remains a fresh topic of discussion in film history circles.