A key aspect for a horror movie is captivating its viewers right from the beginning, as demonstrated by the outstanding opening sequences of some of the best titles within the genre. Essentially, just like any other film, a compelling initial scene is crucial to ensure the movie gets off on the right foot and keeps viewers hooked, preventing them from abandoning the film for the menu of a streaming platform. Given that many of the most memorable horror moments are first scenes in their respective movies, it might be suggested that a strong first impression is especially vital for horror films.
Typically, the initial sequences in horror films serve multiple purposes for directors. They offer a brief shock to viewers, setting the tone for what’s to come before diving into the story details. These sequences often function as a catalyst for the plot, pushing the narrative forward, or resurfacing later in the movie. Regardless of their role, these opening scenes can be some of the most memorable and impactful in cinema history.
9. Scream
Shockingly Assassinated A High-Profile Actress
For many moviegoers, the opening scene of Scream remains one of its most memorable aspects. In this sequence, Drew Barrymore’s character, Casey Becker, finds herself home alone when she receives a call from an enigmatic individual. Initially, she engages in casual conversation and even flirts with the deep-voiced caller.
However, the situation worsens dramatically when it’s revealed that the caller is none other than the ruthless Ghostface killer, who torments his victims by posing horror movie trivia riddles before brutally stabbing them with a dagger. It was quite a shock to viewers in 1996 when the film Scream unexpectedly killed off a popular star like Drew Barrymore, breaking traditional slasher movie norms.
The way Casey’s face falls when Ghostface says “I want to know who I’m looking at” continues to send shivers even today, and it’s no surprise that the Scream series has attempted to recreate this chilling scene numerous times since. Casey’s death remains a masterful demonstration of building suspense in slasher movies.
8. Jaws
Made Two Notes An Iconic Soundtrack
On land, humans stand as unquestionable top predators, capable of chasing down any prey over extended distances and molding nature to our favor through our superior intellect. However, these advantages vanish in water, and the movie “Jaws” skillfully exploits the terror of this weakness by highlighting our vulnerability.
The initial sequence mirrors the memorable poster design of the film, where a fearsome Great White shark fatally attacks the attractive swimmer Chrissy during an unwise solo dip in the ocean. From the eerie music that remains chilling even after all these years to the masterful storytelling technique by Spielberg of making the viewers experience the shark’s viewpoint through POV shots, this scene sets a strong tone for the groundbreaking first modern blockbuster film.
The dimly lit shadows hiding what lurks below the murky depths of the water until it’s too late is a brilliant way to create overwhelming suspense right before the attack starts. This terrifying scene, and indeed the whole movie, instilled in an entire generation an irrational fear of the ocean.
7. A Quiet Place
A Heartbreaking Tragedy That Explains The Nightmare Setting
In today’s era, top-tier monster movies should offer more than just a generic predator feeding on humans, like the classic example of a man-eating shark. Movies such as “A Quiet Place” demonstrate how to introduce a chilling new beast effectively. The initial scene presents a family navigating what appears to be a post-catastrophe environment, being extremely cautious not to create any noise by using sign language and treading softly on specially prepared sand paths.
When an unintentionally noisy toy triggers its sounds, it underscores the peril of making any sound in this world. This incident effectively illustrates, without dialogue, how the creatures in the movie ‘A Quiet Place’ react swiftly and destructively to any noise exceeding a specific decibel level, moving at breakneck speeds like a speeding train to eliminate anything that makes noise.
The Abbott family’s plight, as they experience the heart-wrenching loss of their youngest child due to the terrors of their existence, instantly evokes empathy from the audience. In many horror films, children are revered, making it even more startling when a child perishes, particularly at the film’s outset, such as in A Quiet Place.
6. Midsommar
Sheer Anxiety-Inducing Dread
Occasionally, horror films build tension using a single traumatic incident that echoes throughout the storyline, and few manage to establish such a pivotal event as skillfully as Midsommar. In this movie, the camera stealthily navigates through a sequence depicting the aftermath of Dani’s sister’s horrifying suicide-murder, where she and their parents had been fatally poisoned with carbon monoxide from tubes.
Shift focus to Dani’s boyfriend, Christian, anxiously making his way through the desolate winter landscape as he prepares to tackle the challenging task of consoling Dani following such a tragic and traumatic incident. The eerie suspense that director Ari Aster manages to evoke during this prolonged view of the catastrophe is tough to put into words.
The initial scene of Midsommar subtly hints at the emerging fissures in Dani and Christian’s relationship. Christian’s sluggish stride towards Dani’s apartment and his apprehensive countenance suggest that he’s coming to terms with the fact that, under these circumstances, he can’t end things with Dani as he had initially intended. This moment sets the tone for Dani’s actions throughout the movie, making it audaciously bleak.
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Atmospheric And Gruesome
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a highly successful horror movie known for its extreme levels of brutality. The tagline “Who will survive, and what will be left of them?” alerts viewers that the film will be very violent from the start. To further emphasize this, the opening scene provides a chilling preview of the intense violence to come.
As a cinephile immersed in the world of horror, I’d describe it this way: Over an ominous black canvas, a chilling narrator sets the stage for the grisly spectacle to come, lending the film a haunting documentary-like atmosphere. The audience is then subjected to a barrage of stomach-churning visuals, blinding flashes, and the gruesome sounds of bodies being viciously dissected. The horror culminates in a deeply unsettling tableau: a grotesque effigy of corpses heaped upon a tombstone, forming a twisted tribute to death.
This sequence is potent enough to evoke genuine medical unease, and it leaves no room for doubt that “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is not suitable for those with a weak stomach. With an unsettling feeling of a relentless plunge into a realm of carnage, this scene skillfully prepares the ground for the nightmares yet to come.
4. Sleepy Hollow
Not The Average Endearing Tim Burton Adventure
Sleepy Hollow could be seen as simply another conventional production from director Tim Burton, known for his dark and eerie themes that seldom delve into full-blown horror. However, Sleepy Hollow offers more than just a showcase of Burton’s gothic aesthetics; it is in fact a sincere attempt to replicate the chilling atmosphere of the classic Hammer horror films.
In the initial scene, the audience immediately perceives the message as an unfortunate traveler, identified as Peter Van Garrett, comes face-to-face with the famous Headless Horseman. Later on, during their carriage ride through winding woods, Peter’s driver is violently beheaded by an unseen supernatural entity.
In a panic, he quickly exits the carriage and sprints towards a nearby cornfield in an attempt to save himself, but unfortunately, he fails to escape the galloping horse belonging to the Headless Horseman. The phantom rider catches up to him, trampling and decapitating him with its spectral blade. This scene effectively illustrates the terrifying reality of the Horseman’s legendary menace.
3. It Follows
Sees The Curse Claim Its Most Tecent Victim
In keeping with a common plot device often found in horror films, the movie It Follows features an unidentified character meeting an untimely end at the hands of the film’s villain, prior to any of the main characters being threatened. This is depicted by a character, presumably a minor one, panicking as she flees from something, evidently terrified, giving the impression that someone, or something, is in hot pursuit.
Even though nothing appears unusual to the viewers initially, soon enough, a hapless character finds herself pinned down at a seashore, imploring an unseen entity for her life. Her entreaties go unheeded as the scene transitions to her decaying body lying on the beach sand. This sequence becomes clearer with the full understanding of the movie, subtly hinting at how the enigma of “It Follows” unfolds.
This particular scene subtly establishes an intriguing enigma, hinting at a chilling mystery surrounding the manner in which the ominous presence claims its victims, even though it isn’t explicitly shown in the film. Without prior knowledge of subsequent events, this scene serves to leave viewers pondering the gruesome details of the supernatural murders.
2. IT: Chapter One
Both Creepy Tension And In-Your-Face Gore
The chilling figure known merely as “It”, or Pennywise the Terrifying Clown, has swiftly risen among the ranks of the most recognized horror film antagonists to grace the silver screen. A significant portion of this fame can be attributed to the gripping opening scene from IT: Chapter One, which recreates the pivotal event that sets the story in motion, as depicted in Stephen King’s original novel.
On a gloomy rain-soaked day, the blameless Georgie ventures out with a homemade paper boat, only for it to slip from his grasp and drift along the road, eventually vanishing into a storm drain. This unfortunate event triggers an unexpected run-in with the dreadful Pennywise, a menacing clown. Witnessing Bill Skarsgård’s chilling portrayal of Pennywise for the first time in the murky depths of the sewer is nothing less than breathtaking, and it’s challenging not to warn the unsuspecting Georgie to flee as he’s drawn nearer by offers of popcorn and balloons.
The surprise factor intensifies significantly when, at last, Pennywise lunges for his victim, severing the young boy’s entire arm in the process and pulling him down into the underworld hidden beneath the street, where he is subsequently devoured. It’s extremely distressing to witness such extreme violence being perpetrated against an innocent child, thereby making this scene stand out vividly in memory.
1. Halloween
The Birth Of An Iconic Monster
To this very moment, no opening scene has left such a deep impact on its series as the initial murder by Michael Myers in the Halloween franchise. In simpler terms, when we look back at the film’s creation, director John Carpenter recalled a young boy peering into an intimate moment between his teenage sister and her boyfriend before sneaking away to have privacy.
Under a hypnotic spell, young Michael retrieves his well-known butcher knife from the kitchen, tiptoes upstairs, puts on a terrifying clown mask, and tragically stabs his sister to death without any discernible motive except pure malevolence. The most unsettling aspect is when Michael rushes downstairs afterwards, breathless beneath his mask, encountering his puzzled parents who eventually remove it, revealing he remains in an unnerving trance-like state.
One intriguing and chilling aspect of the entire series is that Michael Myers, despite appearing to have no traumatic experiences in his family, suddenly transformed into an embodiment of pure evil. In just a matter of minutes, John Carpenter successfully etched this concept into horror movie lore.
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2025-04-24 05:59