10 Most Sudden Deaths In Horror Movies You Never Saw Coming

10. Dr. Copper - The Thing

Let's kick things off with one of the most iconic outta nowhere deaths in the history of not just horror but cinema as a whole.

All hell categorically breaks loose in the second half of John Carpenter's The Thing, and after the research team's geologist, Norris (Charles Hallahan), appears to suffer a heart attack, physician Dr. Copper (Richard Dysart) desperately attempts to resuscitate him.

He eventually resorts to using a defibrillator to get Norris' heart pumping in rhythm again, but as he pushes down with the paddles, Norris' chest suddenly caves in, revealing that he has indeed been assimilated by the titular extraterrestrial entity.

And before Copper has any time at all to react, the gaping hole in Norris' chest has turned into a toothed, mouth-like orifice, which promptly bites Copper's arms clean off, causing his swift demise from shock and/or blood loss.

Between the suddenness of Copper's dispatch and the jaw-dropping practical effects on display, it's the kill everybody remembers from the movie, and the one nobody could've possibly seen coming.