10 Horror Movie Plot Twists EVERYONE Guessed
5. Sleepy Hollow - Lady Mary Did It
Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow is a visually stunning and thoroughly entertaining Gothic horror film that sees a Headless Horseman being manipulated into carrying out a series of bloody murders in a New York village at the turn of the 18th century. The plot isn't the film's strongest suit (it's a film that thrives on its direction and performances) and in particular, it does rather bungle the reveal of its twist villain, who eventually turns out to be Lady Mary Van Tassel (the wonderful Miranda Richardson).
Two of the biggest giveaways of a surprise villain are, firstly, an important character dying off-screen and secondly, a major actor getting high billing but disappearing for much of the film. Both of those things will often indicate something is afoot and Sleepy Hollow made both of those mistakes.
It doesn't ruin the film at all, although it's a damn shame that it couldn't have pulled its final twist off better. It was supposed to be a murder mystery, after all.