10 Best Horror Movie Opening Scenes Of The 2010s

10. The Final Girls (2015)

Seen by many as the definitive meta horror movie of the 2010s, The Final Girls pairs millennial culture with '80s slasher sensibilities, while sending up both elements. The film throws Max Cartwright (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends back to a time that never was, when they are sucked into '80s slasher Camp Bloodbath, a movie starring Max's mother Amanda (Malin Akerman). But first, the opening:

The Final Girls kicks off with a fake trailer for Camp Bloodbath, a Friday the 13th-adjacent horror with a sepia tone, cheesy effects, and a synth soundtrack. However, this is not the film we're here to see. Instead, this is a trailer playing on Max's phone in the car. This is the real world, and Max and Amanda have real financial troubles, as an aging Amanda struggles to break back into movies. 

Then, just as we begin to get to know our leading ladies, gain an insight into their lives, and proceed with a lip sync rendition of Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" into what we presume will be the title credits, the car crashes and rolls, and Amanda bites the dust.

The Final Girls' overall balance of horror and comedy is perfectly exemplified by this scene, with a one-two punch that neatly establishes the picture's tone and modus operandi. There’s a bit of fond, nostalgic horror fun and then a car crash that is played straight and leaves us reeling - understanding that, as with any good slasher, no character is safe.