WGTC Weekly Throwdown: Saddest Cinematic Deaths

Nato – Danny Vinyard (American History X)

What makes death tragic? Is it someone’s age? Is it how the now deceased person led their life? Is it your personal connection to the body being lowered into the ground? Characters come and go on screen, but some deaths stick with us like chilling ghosts who haunt our memories. No, I’m not talking about horror movies where the pot-smoking teenager gets slashed to bits by Jason, I’m talking about being haunted by guilt, grief, and righteous emotion. I’m talking about a death so stunning, your mouth is left planted on the floor, along with a completely paralyzed mind and that unsettling feeling in the pit of your stomach. These emotions, plus more, are all brought on by the ending of American History X – rest in peace Danny Vinyard.

For those of you who need a refresher course in modern cinema, Edward Norton plays Derek Vinyard, a recently paroled ex-skinhead sentence for brutally killing two men who attempted to steal his truck. Before going to jail, Derek led a prominent LA white supremacy clan that acted out in bouts of vicious rage, but now that he’s out, Derek is ready to embrace a reformed life of peace. Unfortunately for him though, his past actions had serious consequences.

This is when we meet Danny Vinyard, played by Edward Furlong, who has embraced Derek’s past habits of racism and hatefulness, carrying on his brother’s legacy. Disturbed, Derek makes it his mission to prevent Danny from making the same mistakes he once did, steering Danny away from his regrettable past.

Danny is forced to take a class in school called American History X after showcasing his religious intolerance, and his homework assignment is simple – write about his brother. From here, we watch a series of flashbacks and current interactions between Derek and Danny, as the two fight about Derek abandoning his past and Danny embracing a dangerous future. Thankfully, an understanding is eventually reached, Danny has an enlightening change of heart, and he completes a character transformation worthy of an A+. Then, just as he’s ready to hand his paper in, he’s gunned down by an African American boy who proves sometimes we can’t escape our past choices, and Derek is left to grieve over his newly deceased brother.

Do I have to explain why this character death knocks the wind out of you immediately? Danny spent his whole life listening to Derek, idolizing him, and shaping his life around impressing his older brother, but suddenly that curb-stomping racist he once knew is completely changed into a wholesome civilian – and this strange, new man expects Danny to forget everything he’s been taught. Danny is a child, just a confused teenager looking for family guidance, but he only found an untimely demise brought upon by Derek’s poor lifestyle choices. Although Danny embraced a life full of anti semitic chants, skinned heads, and intolerable thinking, would any of that have happened had Derek been a upstanding member of society? Our choices don’t only impact ourselves, but they cause a ripple effect that touches those around us as well – which the Vinyard family unfortunately had to learn the hard way.

The arguments have been made! Now it’s your turn, head to the comments section and weigh-in on which cinematic death hits you hardest emotionally.

Enjoy what you read? Check out last week’s article where we discuss the most messed up relationships ever caught up on film!