10 Horror Movie Characters Who Had To Die To Win
7. Sophie - Lights Out
An impressive feature-length directorial debut from David F. Sandberg, 2016's Lights Out is a well-crafted, well-acted low-key horror feature with ideas of mental health struggles and familial dysfunction on its mind. It manages to use its thematic content to turn the oft-utilised fear of darkness into something both spine-chilling and emotionally resonant.
The latter is especially evident in the movie's exploration of Sophie (Maria Bello), whose childhood ties to the malevolent ghost Diana (Alicia Vela-Bailey) threaten to wreak havoc on her family. This comes to a visceral end when it becomes clear that Sophie must end her life in order to spare her children from the wrath of her spectral former friend. She does so by shooting herself in the head, therefore severing Diana's ties to the world of the living.
It comes as no surprise that this ending was riddled in controversy due to its perceived glorification of death by suicide. Sandberg defended his narrative choice in an interview with AV Club, where he stated that the then-in-development sequel (which now might not get made) would address the consequences of Sophie's sacrifice.