10 Horror Movie Villains Who Were... Kind Of Right
5. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) - Howard
You’ve been captured by a volatile farmer and brought to his bunker where he instructs you that the world outside has been attacked by aliens. Do you, A, take your chances in the world above; or B, suck up to the unstable farmer because living under his thumb is better than getting slaughtered.
It’s a tough choice for protagonist Michelle to make in 10 Cloverfield Lane and one that we can’t help but doubt her decision-making on. After getting side-swiped by a truck, Michelle wakes up in a bunker with Howard, the aforementioned farmer, and Emmett, another survivor. Michelle grows doubtful about Howard’s claims; so she and Emmett plot to undermine him and ‘escape’ the bunker.
Upon discovering the betrayal, Howard shoots Emmett. As severe as this is, Howard’s actions are defensible –he was conspired against by two people who he was under no obligation to protect in the first place.
Regardless, this is the final straw for Michelle. She attacks Howard and escapes his bunker, killing him and destroying the safe-haven in the process. Once out, Michelle is immediately attacked by an alien spacecraft which she is very nearly killed by.
This leaves us with a harrowing thought: would Michelle have been better off in Howard’s bunker? Above all else, it was at the very least safe.