9 Devastating Horror Movie Deaths You Couldn't Look Away From

Nobody could look away from Robert's death in The Omen because, back in 1976, nobody had ever seen anything like Robert's death in The Omen. Not a single man, woman, or child who had snuck in through the cinema's fire exit ever thought they'd be cheering for a dagger to plunge into the heart of a small boy but, well, there they were.

While this is by no means the most graphic or shocking death in The Omen (we all know what that is by now, and the next time we mention it in a list here a load of fireworks will go off while a banner reading 'Celebrating Keith's 1000th Decapitation!!' unfurls from the ceiling) it is the one with the most dramatic heft. After everything we've seen thus far, getting the Dagger of Megiddo into Damien's heart will finally end the horror, thus building the moment as an enormous release of anxiety.

Except, there is no payoff. Despite having him on the altar, the police arrive just in the "nick of time" to "save the poor defenceless boy" and gun down the "deranged would-be child killer" where he stands. You can't possibly look away because you can't possibly believe that's how things are going to end.