10 Horror Movie Characters Who Didn't Really Have To Die

5. Robert Neville - I Am Legend

In I Am Legend, most of humanity has been transformed into vampiric monsters called Darkseekers, compelling virologist, Robert Neville, to devise a vaccine. After years of testing, Robert successfully creates a viable cure.

But when the infected creatures burst into his lab, Robert hands the vaccine to another survivor, Anna, before placing her and her son in a coal chute. Robert then blows up the lab with a grenade, killing all the Darkseekers and himself in the process. Anna and her son make their way to a commune, where they prepare to mass-produce the vaccine.

As heroic as Robert's sacrifice seems, it doesn't make sense. Firstly, why didn't he hide in the chute with Anna before activating the grenade? I mean, there was enough room. Because of this, it feels like Robert died just to make the ending more tragic.

However, the film would've left a bigger impact if Robert survived. In the original ending, Robert discovers the Darkseekers' leader is only invading the lab to retrieve his mate. In that moment, Robert realises all the Darkseekers he murdered were sentient creatures, making him the monster in their eyes.

Instead of maintaining this visceral gut-punch of an ending, it was swapped out for a generic and forgettable climax.