20 Secret Movie Villains EVERYONE Saw Coming

5. Sheriff Newlon - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Patrick Dempsey
TriStar Pictures

The moment that Patrick Dempsey was cast in Eli Roth's seasonal slasher film Thanksgiving, many instantly pegged his Sheriff Newlon as the killer.

After all, Dempsey's star profile soars far higher than any other actor in the cast, so why exactly would he simply be playing a lowly police officer and possible victim of murderer John Carver?

It's tough to imagine Dempsey signing on for a role like this these days unless he had something more meaty to work with, and so it shocked few when he was indeed unveiled as the killer. 

His motive? He wanted revenge against those he deemed responsible for the Black Friday stampede which killed his pregnant lover Amanda (Gina Gershon) at the start of the movie.

Horror fans were also given another major clue in the film's opening Halloween-esque POV shot, which appears to be a fake-out as it cuts to Newlon. 

But in reality, it's a not-so-sly hint that we just saw through the killer's eyes.

Plus Dempsey, for all of his charms, just looks like an intense piece of work, his piercing eyes making him perfect for roles like this, obvious casting be-damned.

 
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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.