First impressions can make or break a horror movie. Starting out with a strong scare or opening kill can get your audience in the mood for whatever comes next, but a weak opening will make it much harder to get invested in the story. While the rest of the film doesn’t always live up to the standard set by its opening scare, these bloody beginnings are an integral part of what makes a scary movie memorable, especially when dealing with Slasher flicks.
From mysterious POV shots to attempting to one-up the original film when making a sequel, there’s nothing like a particularly gnarly homicide to get moviegoers hyped up for a Slasher, and that’s why we’ve come up with this list celebrating six of the best opening kills in Slasher movies! After all, in a genre that revels in all the gruesome ways you can dispatch camp counselors and babysitters, it stands to reason that many of these stories begin with a memorable murder.
While this list is by no means an objective ranking of all the best opening kills that the genre has to offer, there are a couple of rules. Entries are limited to a single kill per franchise, and the kills are featured regardless of the overall quality of the movie they came from, so no complaining that the rest of the film doesn’t live up to its opening.
With that out of the way, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite opening kills if you think we missed an important one. Now, onto the list!
6. Annie’s Death – It Follows (2014)
A post-modern deconstruction of Slasher tropes would have to feature a memorable opening scene, so leave it to David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows to surprise audiences with an incredibly tense introductory sequence that manages to avoid showing both the killer and the kill.
Not only is Annie’s death a masterful exercise in minimalist terror, but it also introduces audiences to the rules that govern the murderous entity without resorting to tiresome exposition. Simple camera movements and subtle dialogue tell us everything we need to know about the creature, and having our minds fill in the blanks makes the scene that much more disturbing.
5. The Bridge Kill – Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)
I enjoy Tobe Hooper’s black comedy sequel to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre just as much as the original, but there’s no denying that it’s a completely different beast. Gone are the realistic scares and grimy aesthetics of the first film, here replaced by a cartoonish glee as the Sawyer family continues their cannibalistic shenanigans.
This change in tone is clear from the very beginning as we watch Leatherface terrorize a couple of joyriders with a comically large chainsaw while hiding behind the corpse of his deceased brother. As if that weren’t enough, the entire sequence is accompanied by Oingo Boingo’s No One Lives Forever, a morbid yet upbeat ballad that pairs perfectly with Hooper’s twisted sense of humor.
4. Total Party Kill – The Collection (2012)
Marcus Dunstan’s The Collector is my favorite Slasher flick from the 2000s, but its sequel certainly ups the ante when it comes to the titular killer’s knack for gruesome deaths. In fact, the opening scene of this 2012 follow-up manages to be popular even among folks who haven’t watched the movie, with the scene having become something of a viral hit due to the absurd level of violence.
Featuring an intricate contraption that literally mows down partygoers in a hyper-violent opening that could easily compete with anything in the Saw franchise, The Collection does a phenomenal job at proving to viewers that this killer means business. While I don’t think the rest of the film lives up to the standard set by the intro, there’s no denying that this opening kill deserves a spot on this list.
3. The Axe Kill – Wrong Turn 2 (2007)
The first Wrong Turn may have been an entertaining backwoods Slasher flick, but I think it’s safe to say that the franchise really came into its own with Joe Lynch’s surprisingly entertaining follow-up. Not only does the second film feature a more balanced script with equal parts black humor and gnarly antagonists, but it also begins with a highly memorable kill that must be seen to be believed.
Featuring a reality show contestant that accidentally runs over one of the film’s inbred cannibals, the scene soon devolves into madness as Kimberly’s lips are bitten off and fan-favorite Three-Finger steps in to finish her off with what appears to be the world’s sharpest axe. What follows is a masterclass in practical gore effects and a prime example of how to start your sequel off on the right foot.
2. Ancient Persia – Wishmaster (1997)
Robert Kurtzman’s Wishmaster isn’t exactly high art, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t enjoy its batshit crazy take on ancient Djinn mythology. While the majority of the flick takes place in modern day America as the titular Djinn (played by an insanely charming Andrew Divoff) attempts to free his brethren, the movie actually opens with a memorable party that takes place in 1127 Persia.
While the scene doesn’t exactly depict a singular kill, this ridiculous Persian massacre is more fun than the entire rest of the movie combined, earning its place on this list as it showcases a bizarre smorgasbord of practical effects work.
1. Michael’s First Kill – Halloween (1978)
“The blackest eyes… the devil’s eyes.” That’s how Dr. Loomis describes his most dangerous patient in John Carpenter’s original Halloween. And what better way to start off the movie than by placing the audience directly behind those eyes for the opening kill?
This iconic POV sequence is the stuff of cinematic legend, establishing the killer’s modus operandi without necessarily explaining why he kills. The focus here is on the suspense as Carpenter’s score perfectly compliments the disturbing revelation that a seemingly innocent child was responsible for this heinous act. When it comes to opening kills, it’s hard to do it better than this one.
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