Halloween may be over, but as the latest release in the Scream franchise gets set to hit cinemas across the globe, horror fanatics are in a frenzy as scary movies once again become the talk of the big screen.
But what makes the perfect horror flick? Is it perfecting the iconic villain like Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers? Is it the suspenseful soundtrack? The amount of gore and the kills that come with it? Or is it as simple as having characters that you identify with, relate to, believe in and care about?
Whatever you believe, it is hard to deny that a killer opening scene can often be the precursor for a perfect horror film. It can set the tone for the whole plot and is an essential part of any self respecting horror.
But which scary films have the best opening scenes?
Here are 10 of the best opening scenes from horror movies, as ranked by respected film review site Rotten Tomatoes.
5. Carrie (1976)
Sissy Spacek's role as troubled teen Carrie has gone down in the horror history books - and it all begins with an opening scene that proves high school can indeed be real scary. Photo: United Artists/Kobal/Shutterstock
6. Ghost Ship (2002)
Ghost Ship is certainly not one of the most loved horror flicks off all time, but its opening scene really is something special - some would say it so say good, it may cut you in half. Photo: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
7. Jaws (1975)
Possibly the perfect opening scene comes from Jaws. The killer shark is introduced to us as he stalks the waters for his first victim, Chrissie, who screams for her life and thrashes around in the water, before she finally succumbs, goes under and the scene falls silent. Photo: Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
8. Scream (1996)
The success of mid-90s horror Scream was all underpinned by a classic opening scene that sees the film's biggest name die in brutal fashion while also paying homage to a ton of horror flicks. The depth within the scene is far more than that too - it is simply perfect. Photo: Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock