10 Dumbest Ways Movie Characters Got Themselves Killed

Fede Alvarez’ 2013 remake of Sam Raimi’s iconic eighties horror Evil Dead was a surprise smash upon release, managing to win over almost all critics, audiences, and existing fans alike by jettisoning the humour which came to define the series’ later instalments (and its eventual television spin off Ash Vs Evil Dead) and focusing instead on raw, unremitting terror.

The film is a gory, intense journey into a dark, demon-infested woods from which no one gets out without losing their life - or at least, a handful of limbs - in the process. As such, no character felt safe during its tight runtime, and resourcefulness and ingenuity were little use against the film’s unrelenting undead antagonists.

Despite this atmosphere, hanger-on Eric’s behaviour still stands out as some incredibly dumb shenanigans. Coming across a clearly cursed book and deciding to leaf through it is one thing, but Eric spots something stuffed in a bin bag and wrapped in barbed wire, immediately opens it, realises the tome is bound in human hide, and proceeds to start reading… at which point he encounters warnings about not reading its contents aloud. Which he proceeds to do.

It’s hard behaviour to relate to, Eric, that’s all we’re saying.