20 Most Ridiculous Overreactions From Famous Film Characters

17. A Kid Guns Down Danny For Smoking €“ American History X

Danny You might wonder why I haven€™t put the curbstomp scene in as the entry of American History X, and to be fair you might have a point. It is an overreaction, even for a hardened racist €“ man finds two people attempting to jack his car, guns one down and breaks the others face by making him bite down on the pavement. Yet it isn€™t up here because I believe Danny€™s death scene to be even more of an overreaction on the part of his murderer. It€™s an effective ending, utterly shocking and completely out of nowhere and made all the more gutting by just how unnecessary it all was. Danny only gets shot because he blew smoke in the guy€™s face the day before, a massive overreaction which left the audience utterly devastated. It was a wild overreaction, and that was sort of the point €“ Danny, despite his bravado, was the most innocent cast member and he was killed for the most innocuous thing. Even if he wasn€™t prepared to turn the other cheek, there were plenty of other paths his murderer could€™ve taken after the smoke-blowing incident. He could€™ve insulted or punched him, but instead he gunned him down in a urinal. It was grim, and there was a reason a lot of people hated this ending €“ It all seemed so unnecessary. Out of everybody who probably deserved a reprisal in the film €“ Cameron, Seth and even Derek, the punishment is exacted upon Derek€™s little brother, who had actively changed before it was too late.
Contributor
Contributor

Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League. You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.