10 Lord Of The Rings Book Characters We're Thankful Were Left Out Of The Movies

2. The Barrow-Wight

Almost immediately after Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin leave the Shire in The Fellowship of the Ring, the hobbits enter a barrow-down where they discover a shapeshifter called the barrow-wight.

After the demonic spirit captures Frodo and his friends, it hurls them into its den, where they are paralysed by a mysterious green light. To prepare them for a sacrifice, the wight dresses the hobbits in white robes and covers them with gold, jewels, and a sword around each of their necks.

As the devilish phantom prepares to slaughter the halflings, Frodo calls upon Tom Bombadil, who then exorcises the demon with his singing (as you do). Tom then performs a spell on the barrow to ensure no wights can seek refuge there ever again.

Because the confrontation with the barrow-wight leads directly into the introduction of a character cut from the film adaptation, it seems sensible to have the spectre get the chop as well.

Also, the barrow-wight doesn't really bring anything new to the story since it's too similar in concept and appearance to the Nagzul, who the hobbits meet soon after.