- The most disturbing death in the Halloween franchise was not committed by the iconic villain Michael Myers.
- The victim was an innocent teenager, Ben Tramer, who was tragically killed in Halloween II (1981) due to a case of mistaken identity.
- Tramer’s gruesome death—being crushed and burned alive—was accidentally caused by the Haddonfield police who mistook him for Myers.
- This death stands out because it highlights real-world horror and panic, with no justice ever served for the victim in the original timeline.
A Different Kind of Horror in Haddonfield
For decades, Michael Myers has been the undisputed king of carnage in the Halloween franchise, racking up a body count that solidifies his place in horror history. His silent, relentless pursuit has given audiences countless memorable and brutal kills. Yet, the single most disturbing death in the entire series wasn’t the work of “The Shape” at all, but a tragic and horrifying accident that viewers of 1981’s Halloween II can never forget.
The Tragic End of Ben Tramer
The moment occurs in the franchise’s first sequel, which picks up immediately after the events of the original film. As Dr. Loomis and the Haddonfield police frantically hunt for a wounded but still-at-large Michael Myers, they spot a figure in the familiar dark jumpsuit and white mask. Believing they have their man, they pursue the individual down the street.
A Fatal Mistake
The person in the costume wasn’t Michael Myers. It was Ben Tramer, a 17-year-old classmate whom Laurie Strode had a crush on in the first film. Terrified by the armed men chasing him, Tramer panics and runs into the street. In a horrific sequence, an oncoming police car, speeding to the scene, is unable to stop. It slams into Tramer, pinning him against a parked van. The collision causes both vehicles to erupt in flames, engulfing the innocent teenager and burning him to death in a slow, agonizing spectacle.
Why This Death Haunts Fans
What makes Ben Tramer’s death so uniquely disturbing is its source. It wasn’t the result of a supernatural, unstoppable evil, but of chaos, panic, and a fatal error by the very people meant to be protectors. The sheer injustice of the event is what sticks with viewers. Tramer was just a kid in a Halloween costume in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even more chillingly, his death is met with almost no consequences. Once the authorities identify the charred remains at the morgue and realize their catastrophic mistake, Tramer is never mentioned again in the original timeline. This lack of resolution or justice makes his pointless death all the more horrifying.
A Legacy of a Different Kind
While later timelines in the franchise, such as David Gordon Green’s sequel trilogy, confirm that Tramer is alive and well (rendering the events of Halloween II non-canon), his original fate remains a dark and unforgettable stain on the series. It serves as a grim reminder that sometimes, the most terrifying monsters are not the ones in masks, but the panic and human error that can lead to real-world tragedy. It is a death that, for many fans, outshines any of Michael’s methodical slayings in its sheer, senseless horror.
Image Referance: https://www.cbr.com/halloween-2-most-disturbing-death-michael-myers/