10 Deaths That Ruined Horror Movies

So good has Joss Whedon been at burying his mistakes, many people today are still blissfully unaware that Buffy the Vampire Slayer began life as a movie. Although the film contained the formula and many of the hallmarks of what made the series great, and referenced a boatload of other horror properties, it was a definitive flop.

Nonetheless, one of the successful elements that was carried over to the show was the Watcher -- here, Merrick Jamison-Smythe -- sent to guide our young slayer. And he is played by none other than classic horror icon Donald Sutherland. Sage, steely and suitably over the top (for this film, anyway), the veteran actor steals the show from his younger castmates, sets the mold for Anthony Head's Giles, and gives even the sceptics reason to watch.

Not far beyond the film's midpoint, however, he is smote? smited? smitten? by the evil head honcho vampire Lothos (a camp Rutger Hauer). The film limps towards its climax from there, using inarguably the best character's death as Buffy's impetus to fight on. But it's far from enough.

The character would briefly be resurrected for a flashback in the TV series, but for whatever reason Sutherland didn't return for a cameo.