Did You Know that This Terrifying Movie was Based on Reality?

I am not someone who enjoys being scared.  Like I don't really go through haunted houses at Halloween...unless they are totally lame.  That's up my alley.  I don't like scary movies or TV shows, and I really don't even like surprise parties.  I'm a person who will read the end of a book first, or check a TV show synopsis online as I'm watching it so I know what happens, basically.

Get our free mobile app

I didn't see this particular movie when I was a kid, mostly because I was under 10 years old, and that was not allowed.  But I do remember plenty of other people talking about it, and being so afraid after seeing it that they didn't want to even take a bath.  That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the fear was real.

The movie I am talking about is JAWS. I did see the movie in later years, but it was the TV version, much more tamed down, but still plenty scary.  And the thing that I tell myself if I ever find myself watching one of these thrillers is that it isn't real.  And also that it would never happen.

But WAIT - Jaws was actually based on a true story.  OH MY GOSH!  That is terrifying!

The movie takes place in Massachusetts.  It was filmed in Martha's Vineyard, but says it's in the fictional town of Amity.  Steven Spielberg wanted a place that seemed kind of remote.  Apparently, Martha's Vineyard provided that back in 1975.

The "real life" incident happened back in 1916 off the Jersey Shore.  So not quite the same place, but close enough.

This is an overview of what happened... the TRUE story.

From USA Today:

-On July 1, 1916, Charles Epting Vansant arrived from Philadelphia at the Engleside Hotel, located on the Jersey Shore, according to Matawan Historical Society. He took a swim around 6pm, and that's when he was attacked by a great white shark, and later died from his wounds.

-Just five days later, Charles Bruder, 28, joined friends and went for a swim. About 130 yards from shore, he was attacked by a shark. Accounts say Bruder's legs were bitten off by the time lifeguards got to him. He died from blood loss.

- On July 8, a shark was spotted swimming just outside the ropes of a swimming area in Asbury Park. It was about a 12 foot shark, not like the 25 footer from the movie. This time he was "shooed away" BUT....

-July 12, the shark headed inland. 11-year-old Lester Stillwell went swimming in Matawan Creek to beat the heat. Just past 2 p.m. that day, Stilwell was attacked by a shark in front of his friends, who were also swimming. When his body was recovered, he was dead, as was his would-be rescuer, Stanley Fisher.

-12-year-old Joseph Dunn was also attacked by a shark in the same creek. He ended up healing from his wounds.

After all of this happened, the mayor of the town issued a $100 reward (it was 1916) for the killing of the shark.  About 3 days later the shark was caught.

This is completely terrifying.  And I am rethinking any sort of ocean swimming.  I'll just stay on the beach or pool and just look at the pretty water.  Much safer.  YIKES!

By the way, Peter Benchley, the author of the book claims that these events didn't totally inspire him, he was aware of the attacks.  But he says the book came from him having a lifelong fascination with shark attacks.