In the Book

The hobbits do not wake from an ill-timed and unplanned nap at lunch until late afternoon. A heavy fog veils any view of the surrounding country, and the hobbits are eager to get out of the Downs as quickly as they can. As they travel nearly blind in the fog and gathering darkness, the hobbits get separated, or rather, Frodo gets separated from his other three companions. He wanders frantically in search of them until after night has fallen, and then hears a chilling voice coming seemingly from under the ground. Frodo tries to flee, but loses consciousness and is taken into the barrow on which he had been standing.

When Frodo comes to, he finds himself trapped inside a barrow with Sam, Merry, and Pippin; the other three hobbits are unconscious. A ‘sad but horrible’ voice rises in a bone-chilling chant, and an arm (yes, an arm) creeps across the floor towards the comatose Sam, Merry, and Pippin. For a moment Frodo considers trying to escape by himself and leave his friends to their fate- he can see nothing that he can do to help them- but the indomitable hobbit-courage rises in him, along with the knowledge that he cannot leave them. He takes a sword that had been lying near him and, ‘With what strength he had he hewed at the crawling arm near the wrist, and the hand broke off’. Frodo loses his balance and falls, and suddenly remembers the song that Tom Bombadil had taught the hobbits in case they were ever in need of his aid. Frodo recites it, and within minutes Tom appears. He helps Frodo get the three hobbits out of the barrow, calls up their ponies, expels the Wight, and brings an armload of treasure out from the mound. He gives the hobbits each a [sword], takes a blue brooch for Goldberry and leaves the rest upon the hillside. Tom the accompanies the hobbits for the rest of their journey through the downs, and leaves them once they ‘Come back to the road after many unexpected adventures’

In the movie

Omitted.

Why the change?

As usual, time constraints. But though this sequence doesn’t fully relate to the main story-arc, one can’t argue its action and spookiness. I’ve read the book many times, and the barrow-wights never fail to creep me out. It seems strange that Peter Jackson, with his track record for horror flicks, decided to not even give a nod to this sequence. But ultimately, as the movie is concerned, it is unnecessary action that does not further the plot.