The movie killed your favorite character and your favorite character killed the movie.
When it comes to horror — a genre (and its many subgenres) where character death should not only be expected, but is pervasive from the get-go — there are a number of reasons why someone who pops his clogs might switch. the pacing, tone, or odds with a favorable outcome from fans and critics.
Perhaps they were integral to the emotional plot, or perhaps they played an essential role in the literal. Maybe they were just funny and likable, brightening up an otherwise dreary movie. In any case, having these stars bite it before the endcrawl resulted in these movies becoming significantly, noticeably worse.
Sure, most of these movies weren’t exactly Oscar-worthy in the first place, but maybe they could have salvaged a little more dignity, peace, or audience loyalty if they hadn’t killed off the one you all love. So let’s take a trip down memory lane and cry again over the loss of a key character, and what these ten movies could have been if only they could have held it together.
10. Dennis Rafkin – Thirteen Ghosts (2001)
Thirteen Ghosts (or THIR13EN Ghosts, if you must) arrived as part of the late 90s/early 00s wave of trashy horror that was designed more as a means to get you a good night at the movies with you. companions more than anything else to resist the cold, sharp steel of the critic’s pen.
A remake of William Castle’s 1960 horror, Steve Beck’s first film sees a family inherit a state-of-the-art puzzle house from their uncle, which is home to — you guessed it — thirteen ghosts. Trapped in the house by shifting walls and supernatural machines, the family must face vengeful entities with only Uncle Dennis’ psychic assistant to help them navigate this terrifying new world.
Our psychedelic hero is none other than Matthew Lillard, one of horror’s most dedicated young actors until Scooby-Doo pushed him into comedy and voice acting for good (well, almost). And he’s in good shape. Unfortunately, though, Lillard is the only one who gives a performance that really lives up to the tone of the film on its level — meaning that Dennis is the glue that holds everything together. When he gets chopped up like a toothpick in the second act, ugh, the whole movie kind of goes with him.
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