2. Hallorann Strikes Out - The Shining (1980)
Warner BrosOne of the most hilarious examples of a rescue mission exploding on the launch pad takes our number 2 spot. However, weve kept this hero from the very top of the list because hes totally out of his depth. In Stanley Kubricks The Shining, the dysfunctional Torrance family finds itself snowbound in the secluded and haunted Overlook Hotel. The ghostly inhabitants drive family patriarch, Jack Torrance, bonkers; the gonzo pappy decides chopping his family into kindling would be a good idea. Thankfully, Jacks son, Danny, possesses psychic powers, which he uses to call in the cavalry. Too bad the cavalry happens to be the Overlooks kindly head chef, Dick Hallorann. It turns out a geriatric chef was a bad choice for a savior. Hallorann heroically braves a blizzard to reach the beleaguered family; lamentably, he barely makes it in the front door before taking an axe to the sternum. The rescue attempt is over before it begins, so Danny has to rely on his wits to save his skin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQ1oKSSNyU Its such a memorable failure that the Simpsons saw fit to turn it into a running gag in a Tree House of Horror episode: Groundskeeper Willie keeps showing up to save the day only to take an axe in the back for his trouble. This totally misfire more than earns its spot on the list.