10 Most Intense Star Trek Cold Opens

9. The Devil In The Dark

The classic The Devil In The Dark teaches the audience that just because different lifeforms may come in various shapes in sizes, they may not be so different from each other. Having said that, the cold open to this first-season episode of The Original Series is chilling, with a side of nightmare.

On Janus VI, some thing has been terrorising the colony. With echoes of the great horror B movies of years past, Schmitter takes his position at the guard post, clearly afraid and almost ready to bolt. Chief Vanderberg assures him that he'll be fine - he has his phaser, after all. And he can just cry for help if need be, bringing the rest of the team to him.

He does cry for help - but it's far too late. The eponymous beast rises before him, terrifying the man, before the screen cuts away. When the rest of the minors arrive, all that remains is a pile of burnt ashes - all that's left of Schmitter. 

Cut to credits.