When I was a kid and saw the film Jaws.
I was convinced Jaws would get me in my sleep. This despite the fact I lived in Lancashire, at least a mile from the nearest river with a sea connection and a long way from Amity, which I was dimly aware was probably somewhere off the south eastern United States.

So, assuming Jaws survives the end of the film, can navigate the river Irwell as far as Bury, hop out of the water, thrash his way across fields and two major roads, open a garden gate latched on the inside (which even human beings with their opposale thumbs found nigh on impossible to work), break down a door, climb upstairs and manouver a complicated bannister arrangement to my childhood bedroom to bite me, he would then have to have a bite length of at least 23 inches as I habitually slept as close as possible to the wall in order to avoid this admittedly remote possibility. Fuck you Jaws, you were never going to get me.
( Smallbrainfield, Thu 1 Jul 2010, 14:07, 7 replies)

lolz I had a similar thing when I was really small with the loch ness monster. The fear gripped me when we were watching a tv program about it and the presenter spoke over a map of the british isles. When I realised that Loch Ness was not land-locked I suddenly assumed nessie would be able to sail out of the loch, circumnavigate the UK, swim up the Ouse at The Wash and devour me as I slept. I had a brilliant contingency though...I swapped beds with my younger brother that night, leaving him the coveted window bed. I figured that I would be alerted to the sound of a huge plesiosaur snacking on my sibling, thus enabling me to retreat to the impregnable fortress that was....under my duvet.
(mersault, Thu 1 Jul 2010, 14:40, closed)

i read that as
the film Jews, which I guess would be just as bad
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Thu 1 Jul 2010, 15:33, closed)

Don't be so sure....
If the shark in Jaws 3 can follow a family to their holiday resort, and GROWL menacingly, anything is possible. Oh, and the original book from which the film was made was inspired by a series of shark attacks in New Jersey in 1916. The shark(s) travelled upriver to attack people swimming in a creek.....
(Rsoles, Thu 1 Jul 2010, 22:53, closed)

The first time I watched Jaws
I guess I was 6 or 7. My Mum told me that I had to keep my feet off the floor so that if the screen burst & Jaws came swimming through he wouldn't be able to get me.
I don't really remember her being much of a prankster but this always stayed with me.
(MyFakeName, Fri 2 Jul 2010, 12:25, closed)

Nice story, and funny too.
(Mitchell Gant, Fri 2 Jul 2010, 14:37, closed)

As a matter of fact...
... Jaws is set in the North East USA - I think it's a fictionalisation of Long Island, NY.
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Fri 2 Jul 2010, 14:42, closed)

Or Jaws might
hitch a ride on a helicopter.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Sun 4 Jul 2010, 13:29, closed)