10 Horror Movie Deaths Not Even The Actors Saw Coming
3. Neil Howie (The Wicker Man)
The climax of 1973's The Wicker Man features one of the most iconic horror movie deaths ever, with Sergeant Neil Howie being roasted alive inside the titular wooden giant.
Though actor Edward Woodward was informed about his character's fate, it was the manner in which it was shot that he didn't see coming one bit.
During production, Woodward refused to go and see the giant Wicker Man structure that had been constructed for the finale, wanting his reaction to be genuine when his character first sees it.
Further still, Woodward didn't know that he needed to go inside the Wicker Man while it was burning. This important fact was only revealed to him on the day, meaning that his terrified reactions during the finale are 100 percent real.
Woodward later confessed that the nature of Howie's death scene "was kept a deep, dark secret from me", though he did also add that he appreciated the warmth of the fire!