The horror genre dates all the way back to the early days of cinema. As the industry has grown over the years, horror has become a staple of the movies, with the genre spawning franchises and standalone movies, all of which would not be nearly as successful as they are without featuring complex characters.
Attachment to character is what makes the horror genre work; for example, if it were not for Sidney Prescott and Laurie Strode, would the Scream and Halloween franchises still be going strong 25 and 43 years later, respectively? As is, unfortunately, the case for many movies within the horror genre, well-written characters can be ruined by certain actions or decisions, forever tarnishing their legacy.
Ellen Ripley - Alien 3 (1992)
While the Alien franchise has stood the test of time, the movies themselves have been fairly up and down in terms of viewer opinion (at least, according to IMDb). One movie that was particularly maligned as it followed two classics, Alien and Aliens, is Alien 3. This threequel saw the franchise returning to its horror roots, but some disagreed with its overly hopeless tone.
The film opens with the deaths of Bishop, Newt, and Hicks, and Ripley then demands an autopsy of Newt's body to check for contagion. It was an odd choice following the happy ending of Aliens, as Ripley's adoption of Newt numbed the pain of her outliving her own daughter whilst in hypersleep. Her arc, and therefore legacy, is tarnished by this controversial story decision.
Sarah Carter - The Descent (2005)
British filmmaker Neil Marshall's second movie in the horror genre is 2005's The Descent, arguably the best horror movie of the 2000s. The final scene of Marshall's movie is different for UK and US audiences. The UK version of the ending is utterly hopeless as Sarah's escape is a hallucination, whereas the US version sees her escaping but hallucinating the betrayer, Juno.
As Juno is to blame for Sarah's situation, the US ending is more deserved for her character as her escape from the cave is cathartic. However, it is still appropriate as it indicates that she will be traumatized by the events. UK audiences received a version of the ending that was both tragic and arguably undeserved for the morally good, long-suffering protagonist.
Kaylie Russell - Oculus (2013)
In 2013, Mike Flanagan, of The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass fame, co-wrote, edited, and directed Oculus, a supernatural horror movie that centered on a woman's quest to prove that a mirror haunted her family when she was a child and caused the deaths of her parents.
Kaylie is inadvertently killed by her brother, Tim, in his attempt to destroy the mirror. While Oculus was unlikely to spawn a franchise, it is still a shame to see such a well-written character perish so early in her story, especially one who had prepared for over a decade to prove her family's innocence. The grim ending may be loved by some, but it certainly is not a satisfying conclusion to her arc.
Christine Brown - Drag Me To Hell (2009)
In one of Sam Raimi's best movies Drag Me To Hell, loan officer Christine Brown rejects an application from a woman named Sylvia Ganush, in order to appear assertive to her boss to receive a promotion. As a result, Sylvia curses Christine and sets her down a path to uncover how to avoid being, quite literally, dragged to Hell.
The ending is an excellent, unexpected twist, but is a shame as Christine was regretful of her initial decision throughout the film, and as her boyfriend says in their final moments, she has "a good heart." Her death felt undeserved as her character was so likable. She may have made a mistake but she regretted it, and arguably deserved a happy ending.
Erin Harson - You're Next (2013)
2013's You're Next, starring Sharni Vinson, features one of the most calamitous dates in the horror genre. When Erin attends her boyfriend Crispin's family reunion, she is forced to use her skills acquired during her upbringing on a survivalist compound when the family is attacked by masked killers.
Erin inadvertently kills an innocent police officer at the conclusion of the film. For audiences, it is thrilling to see such an intensely capable final girl almost get the ending she deserved. Unfortunately, and presumably for shock value, she becomes culpable for the death of an innocent, which alters the viewer's perception of her.
Randy Meeks - Scream 2 (1997)
Perhaps one of the most disappointing deaths in the long-lasting Scream franchise is Randy Meeks, who meets his end at the hands of Ghostface in Scream 2. In his final scene, he has an argument with the killer on the phone whilst in broad daylight, until he gets too close to a van and is pulled inside and killed by Ghostface.
Randy is perhaps one of the smartest survivors of the first movie, who contributes to the Scream franchise appearing self-aware about the slasher genre. He has a speech in Scream in which he lists the ways to survive in a horror movie. He suddenly forgets these horror movie tropes, and walks away from the perfectly safe space in the middle of the open field, and is murdered.
Wichita - Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
The original Zombieland, released in 2009, followed four survivors of the zombie apocalypse who, despite their intense differences, came together as a makeshift family. Two of those characters, Columbus and Wichita, form a romantic relationship, and the sequel, Double Tap, set 10 years later, sees them breaking up in the beginning.
An element of the first movie is Wichita and Little Rock's tendency to leave Columbus and Tallahassee and fend for themselves, which they finally stop doing by the end of the movie. Wichita's decision to leave Columbus after 10 years together is an odd one that seemingly comes out of nowhere and ruins her well-defined character arc from the first movie.
Ed & Lorraine Warren - The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Despite only beginning in 2013, The Conjuring franchise has had eight movies released within it, with Ed and Lorraine Warren appearing in the majority of them. The two characters are seasoned paranormal investigators, who have helped and saved numerous victims in their research into the occult.
In the sequel to the first film in the franchise, The Conjuring 2, Ed and Lorraine end up believing that a girl has faked her possession to get away with her actions, which almost leads to the family facing a tragic end until Ed and Lorraine realize their error and return to help. It arguably ruins their characters in a way, as it seems like a mistake they should not have made so deep into their careers.
Helen Shivers - I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
While the main character of I Know What You Did Last Summer, Julie James, is considered one of the best final girls in the horror genre by some, there are others who believe that a different character in the movie deserved to be the final girl. Helen Shivers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, dies in the movie, ruining a potentially great character.
Helen's final scene is one of the best in the entire movie, as it sees her evading the killer at almost every turn, outsmarting him, and fighting on despite being terrified. As she fights to the bitter end, it becomes very disappointing to see her killed by the Fisherman, as many believe that she is the most likable character who would have fared well in the following sequels.
Hannibal Lecter - Hannibal (2001)
One of the undisputedly greatest characters in all of horror cinema is Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of the serial killer stays with the viewer, despite only having 16 minutes of screen time in The Silence of the Lambs, due to how terrifying his mannerisms are.
The character's lasting legacy is rooted in his initial, limited appearance. In the sequel, Hannibal, Lecter is seen much more frequently, and his nature as a twisted individual is showcased in a scene that sees him feeding a man his own brain. Hopkins himself, in conversation with The Wrap, expressed his regrets over reprising his role as Lecter. This only helps to cement his appearance in sequels, and particularly this scene, as entirely unnecessary and detrimental to his legacy, as the more he is seen, the less terrifying he is.