5 Side Characters Who Completely Stole Horror Movies

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Truly great horror films feature characters we genuinely connect with as they battle terrifying creatures or overwhelming threats. The fear we feel isn’t just from the scary elements – it’s from wanting those characters to make it through, because we’ve grown to care about them.

Sometimes the most impactful character isn’t the main one. A character with a small role – often one who dies early on – can surprisingly become the most memorable part of a story. This is especially true in horror movies, where a brief but compelling performance can really elevate the fear factor and make the film more lasting.

5) Amanda Young In The First Saw Movie

In the first Saw movie, Amanda Young didn’t have a large role. She was one of the Jigsaw Killer’s survivors, famously escaping a dangerous trap and claiming he’d actually helped her. Even though she was only in the film briefly, viewers were fascinated by her character and wanted to see more of her story.

Amanda was probably turned into a villain – Jigsaw’s helper – in the later Saw films simply because she was a fan favorite. The writers decided to bring her back, revealing she became dedicated to Jigsaw after surviving one of his traps. This new, darker role was just as compelling as her initial appearance and added a lot to the sequels’ horror.

4) Deputy Chicory in Bone Tomahawk

Bone Tomahawk is widely considered a top-tier Western horror film. While the movie starts with a journey to find missing people, it doesn’t truly become thrilling until the characters confront a terrifying enemy. Thankfully, the character of Chicory keeps the initial scenes engaging.

Richard Jenkins plays a character who is both talkative and hilariously clumsy, providing much of the film’s comedic moments. However, Jenkins also ensures that his character is genuinely likeable. This creates a surprising contrast – Chicory’s foolishness lulls the audience into a false sense of security, making the film’s darker themes even more disturbing.

3) Randy Meeks in Scream

Randy Meeks was such a fan favorite that many viewers found his death in Scream 2 hard to accept. In the first Scream movie, he acted as a stand-in for the audience, as his deep love of horror films mirrored the extensive knowledge many fans had about the genre.

Randy’s knowledge proved helpful to other characters in the first movie, as he explained what was happening and how to survive. While fans were glad he made it through the first film, his relief was short-lived. Many hoped his death wasn’t real and that he’d return, but the actor who played Randy, Jamie Kennedy, has confirmed that, for now, the character is definitely gone.

2) Rod Williams in Get Out

Most horror movies feature a funny best friend who tries to help the main character survive, and Rod Williams from Get Out did this perfectly. Right from the start of what many consider the best horror film ever made, Rod was dedicated to looking out for Chris while also providing much-needed comic relief.

Most supporting characters either don’t survive or aren’t very helpful, but Rod is different. He’s fully committed to rescuing Chris and actually succeeds, making him a likable character. What’s more, he stands out as one of the few heroic TSA agents in film, which particularly resonated with fans who work in security roles.

1) Quint in Jaws

The movie Jaws remains a horror classic, and a big reason why is the character of Quint. He provided a great contrast to the calmer, more scientific Matt Hooper, being tough, determined, and always speaking his mind.

A memorable scene in Jaws features Quint sharing his experience on the ship that carried the Hiroshima bomb after World War II. The speech was deeply moving and considered one of the best ever delivered by a supporting character in a movie. Quint’s story made audiences connect with him, which is why his death during the final shark attack is so impactful.

What horror movie character always steals the show for you? Share your thoughts and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-12 02:16