10 Horror Victims That Did Everything Right But Died Anyway

Night of the Living Dead didn't just pioneer the zombie sub-genre, but emphasised how being logical, compassionate, and quick-thinking isn't enough to survive a disaster.

In the opening, a local called Ben and several others are attacked by flesh-eating ghouls, compelling them to seek shelter in a farmhouse. While the others panic, Ben boards up the windows and doors to keep the zombies at bay. Knowing he's only delaying the inevitable, Ben hopes to devise a long-term goal to survive. When he learns one occupant is ill, he starts looking for medical supplies.

What's remarkable about Ben is how he doesn't pretend to have all the answers. He knows he's out of his depth, but takes control of the situation, simply because nobody else will. He's terrified but remains calm, knowing hysteria will accomplish nothing. 

At the same time, he's not a pushover since he stands his ground when another survivor, Harry, repeatedly challenges him. Harry's hostility breaks down the group's dynamic, allowing the undead to burst in and kill everyone, save for Ben. 

But as Ben looks through the window the following morning, he's shot by a passerby, who falsely believes he's a zombie. What's worse is the shooter never recognises his mistake, so nobody knows the effort Ben went through to survive the night. Instead, the resourceful hero becomes just another body to burn on the bonfire, alongside the other ghouls.