10 Movie Characters That Suffered Unnecessarily Cruel Fates

There's room for nuance in the argument for this one as we are, after all, talking about the final moments of a man convicted for committing horrific crimes. But upon watching the agonisingly drawn-out, torturous demise of Michael Jeter's Eduard "Del" Delacroix, I defy you not to feel desperately sorry for the poor bugger.

In the film version of this Stephen King novella, Del is rendered as a meek, kind, gentle man who has befriended his prison guards. He also takes care of a mouse, Mr. Jingles, who becomes Del's main source of joy as he awaits his execution. Del's crimes aren't specifically alluded to in the film (in the book he had perpetrated some ghastly things) so the character we are introduced to is an affable, diminutive chap with a benevolent manner and a thick Acadien accent. He is, to all intents and purposes, a 'nice guy.'

Seeing this man bullied, beaten, and abused by the film's chief villainous figure - the sadistic guard Percy - is one thing, but watching him slowly fry to death is another. Percy purposefully neglects to wet the sponge that would conduct electricity straight to the brain for an instant death, and in doing so gives us one of the most distressing few minutes in movie history.

No one deserves to go out like that, not least a man who has shown himself to be compassionate, caring, and repentant. When Paul and Brutus force Percy to watch his handiwork they force us to watch it too. Every gut-churning moment.