Given that the best horror movies endeavor to embroil their characters in harrowing events, it adds a layer of pathos for the audience if these characters are also charismatic and compelling or simply innocent and undeserving. Indeed, there are times at which characters don’t seem to get the endings they truly deserve. Whether they go out with a bang, sacrificing themselves for the good of the group, or become tragic figures who suffer unspeakable fates, many horror icons leave us longing for an alternative outcome.
Certain characters captivate viewers, their presence often becoming a key reason why audiences stay invested in the film, only to be devastated when our favorite ally meets an untimely end. Shocking movie endings are unforgettable, and character deaths are often easy fodder for big audience responses. But risks like this can leave viewers either emotionally shattered by their most beloved character’s demise or fiendishly frustrated by how their story concludes.
10 Agnes – Speak No Evil (2022)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By Christian Tafdrup
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Few endings are as devastating as the one Speak No Evil delivers for young Agnes. As her parents bend over backwards to be polite to their increasingly sinister hosts, Agnes becomes collateral damage in a twisted game.
Speak No Evil 
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Director Christian Tafdrup Cast Morten Burian , Sidsel Siem Koch , Fedja van Huet , Karina Smulders , Liva Forsberg , Marius Damslev Runtime 97 minutes
The revelation that Patrick and Karin murder families to steal their children is horrifying enough, but watching Agnes meet this fate is unbearable. Her tragic death, and the loss of her tongue, serves as a haunting reminder of her parents’ inability to act when it mattered most. Agnes’ fate is tragic, in part because of its inevitability, making Speak No Evil‘s ending a chilling one.
9 Adrien – Raw (2016)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By Julia Ducournau
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The roommate and only true friend to Justine in Julia Ducournau’s Raw, Adrien stands out as a beacon of kindness and understanding in a sea of chaos. He accepts Justine’s quirks, supports her through her dark transformation, and even becomes romantically involved with her despite his own preferences.
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Director Julia Ducournau Release Date March 15, 2017 Cast Garance Marillier , Ella Rumpf , Rabah Nait Oufella , Laurent Lucas , Joana Preiss Runtime 99 Minutes
His death at the hands of Justine’s sister is ruthless, not just because it’s violent, but because Adrien was the last source of stability for Justine in this coming-of-age cannibal horror. Adrien’s ending is as shocking as it is tragic, leaving viewers wishing he could’ve escaped the madness.
8 Clark – The Thing (1982)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By John Carpenter
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Clark’s love for the dogs in The Thing makes him an immediate standout, but that same connection paints a target on his back. He’s suspected of being infected, and his quiet demeanor does little to convince the others of his innocence.
The Thing (1982) 5.0 7
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Release Date June 25, 1982 Writers Bill Lancaster Cast T.K. Carter , David Clennon , Keith David , Kurt Russell , wilford brimley Runtime 109 minutes
His death at the hands of MacReady, who shoots him in self-defense, feels like a tragic misunderstanding that could’ve been avoided. By The Thing‘s ending, it’s revealed that Clark wasn’t infected at all.
Making his death one of the film’s most sorrowful moments.
Clark didn’t deserve this fate – he was just a man trying to protect his dogs in a world falling apart.
7 Ben – Night of the Living Dead (1968)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By George A. Ramero
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Ben’s fate in Night of the Living Dead is arguably one of the most poignant in horror history. After surviving a night of terror and barely escaping the clutches of the undead, his story ends not with a heroic escape, but with a tragic, bitter twist.
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Director George A. Romero Release Date October 4, 1968 Cast Judith O’Dea , Kyra Schon , Duane Jones , Marilyn Eastman , Karl Hardman Runtime 96 minutes
The 56-year-old horror movie sees Ben shot by a group of rescuers, who mistake him for a zombie. His death is more than just a shocking ending – it’s a haunting allegory about the racial tensions of the time. He deserved to survive the night, but instead, his life is cut short in a way that leaves a lasting impact on audiences to this day.
6 Helen Shivers – I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By Jim Gillespie
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Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Helen is easily the most sympathetic character in I Know What You Did Last Summer. Despite her pageant-queen exterior, she’s a tragic figure, watching helplessly as her boyfriend and sister are slaughtered.
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Director Jim Gillespie Release Date October 17, 1997 Cast Ryan Phillippe , Freddie Prinze Jr. , Muse Watson , Sarah Michelle Gellar , Jennifer Love Hewitt Runtime 101 minutes
And just when you think she might escape, we’re given one of the most tension-filled chases in slasher history – only for her to meet a brutal end just steps away from safety. Helen deserved so much better than becoming another victim of the hook-handed killer. Her relentless fight for survival should have paid off, perhaps even enabling her to continue the fight in the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise.
5 Sally Hardesty – Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By David Blue Garcia
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Texas Chainsaw Massacre‘s Sally Hardesty survived one of the most horrific on-screen massacres in horror history, barely escaping Leatherface in the original 1974 classic. So, when she returns in the 2022 sequel, fans expected a moment of redemption or at least a meaningful conclusion.
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Director David Blue Garcia Release Date February 18, 2022 Cast Jessica Allain , Nell Hudson , Alice Krige , Sarah Yarkin , Moe Dunford , Olwen Fouéré , Elsie Fisher , Mark Burnham , Jacob Latimore Runtime 81 minutes
Instead, she’s reduced to a shell of her former self, ultimately meeting a brutal, anticlimactic end. Sally deserved better than becoming Leatherface’s latest victim, especially after everything she endured. The 2022 film utterly fails Sally Hardesty. Her legacy should have been honored, not tossed aside for shock value.
4 Dick Hallorann – The Shining (1980)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By Stanley Kubrick
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Dick Hallorann is nothing short of a hero in The Shining. From the moment he connects with young Danny through their shared “shine,” it’s clear he’s more of a father figure to the boy than Jack ever could be.
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Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date June 13, 1980 Cast Danny Lloyd , Shelley Duvall , Jack Nicholson , Scatman Crothers Runtime 146 minutes
Hallorann risks everything to return to the Overlook, battling a snowstorm to try and save Danny and Wendy. But despite his efforts, the Stephen King adaptation by Kubrick mercilessly cuts his story short with a brutal axe blow from Jack. In the novel, Hallorann survives, making his film death feel all the more undeserved. This man went through hell to help and deserved to walk away.
3 Dewey – Scream (2022)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By Tyler Gillet & Matt Bettinelli-Olphin
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Dewey’s death in Scream (2022) was a gut-wrenching moment for fans who had grown up with him throughout the franchise. After racing to the hospital to save Tara, Dewey overpowers Ghostface and subdues the killer.
Scream (2022) 3.5 5
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Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin , Tyler Gillett Release Date January 14, 2022 Cast Neve Campbell , Courteney Cox , David Arquette , Melissa Barrera , Jack Quaid , Mikey Madison , Jenna Ortega Runtime 114 minutes
But when he makes the fatal decision to go back and finish the job, Ghostface catches him off guard, stabbing him multiple times. As Dewey dies, Ghostface chillingly tells him, “It’s an honor.”
Related Scream 2022: 8 Most Shocking Deaths In The Movie, Ranked
Scream 5 is full of brutal, shocking deaths and Ghostface picks off his fair share of characters in the latest movie of the horror-comedy franchise.
Watching Dewey, the heart of the Scream franchise, die is devastating – both because it’s such a savage way to go and Dewey almost died countless times throughout the film series. It felt inevitable yet still heartbreaking. His willingness to sacrifice himself was true to his character, but the way it played out – a missed opportunity, a phone call from Gale at the worst moment – made it feel like pure chance. Dewey died a hero, fighting one last time, but the loss of such an iconic character still stings.
2 Sang-hwa – Train to Busan (2016)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By Yeon Sang-ho
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From the moment Sang-hwa appears on screen in Train to Busan, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Though his initial tension with Seok-woo sets him up as a potential villain, it soon becomes clear that Sang-hwa is a hero in the making. He’s fierce, selfless, and willing to punch a zombie square in the face if it means saving others.
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Not RatedHorrorThrillerAction Director Sang-ho Yeon Release Date July 20, 2016 Cast Jung Yu-mi , Kim Su-an , Choi Woo-shik , Gong Yoo , Ma Dong-seok
His final act of sacrifice – holding back the infected to ensure his pregnant wife’s safety – is both heartbreaking and heroic. In what’s likely Don Lee’s best movie so far, Sang-hwa is a character who radiates strength and love, making his untimely death a gut-wrenching loss. He deserved to live long enough to meet the child he was so excited to welcome into the world.
1 Frank – 28 Days Later (2003)
The Movie Was Directed By Directed By Danny Boyle
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Frank is one of the most likable characters in 28 Days Later, a tough but kindhearted father who’s doing his best to protect his daughter in a world overrun by the infected. His death comes as a result of pure bad luck – a drop of infected blood falls into his eye, turning him into one of the very monsters he’s fought so hard to avoid.
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Director Danny Boyle Release Date June 27, 2003 Cast Megan Burns , Cillian Murphy , Christopher Eccleston , Brendan Gleeson , Naomie Harris Runtime 113 minutes
His final moments, where he tells his daughter he loves her, are heartbreaking, making his demise feel both unfair and unjust. Frank deserved better, especially after everything he did to keep the group safe.
|
Character |
Movie |
|---|---|
|
Agnes |
Speak No Evil (2022) |
|
Adrien |
Raw (2016) |
|
Clark |
The Thing (1982) |
|
Ben |
Night of the Living Dead (1968) |
|
Helen Shivers |
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) |
|
Sally Hardesty |
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) |
|
Dick Hallorann |
The Shining (1980) |
|
Dewey |
Scream (2022) |
|
Sang-hwa |
Train to Busan (2016) |
|
Frank |
28 Days Later (2003) |
And with the 28 Years Later sequel in development, Brendan Gleeson’s friendly face will certainly be missed from the original cast.