10 Brilliant Movie Villains Defeated In The DUMBEST Way Possible

In Speed, Detective Jack Tavern has to deactivate a bomb on a bus planted by terrorist, Howard Payne. If Payne was played by a lesser actor, he would probably come across as a generic and forgettable villain. However, the character is portrayed by Dennis Hopper; an actor so talented, he made the Super Mario Bros. film watchable.

Hopper is so likeable, he made Howard Payne one of the defining action villains of the 1990s. Even though most of the story revolves around deactivating a bomb, watching Hopper's scenes are more entertaining.

Now, because this is an popcorn flick, we know Speed is going to conclude with Howard suffering from over-the-top death. (It's a time-honoured tradition in blockbusters.) After battling Jack on the top of a train, Howard looks like he has the upper hand. However, he is suddenly killed when a signal light lops off his head. After Jack quips a one-liner, you can't help but groan.

We know it would've been unoriginal if Speed concluded with Howard being shot dead but would it have killed the writers to come up with something better than "decapitation by train light?"