10 Best Horror Movie Opening Scenes Of The 1990s

Although The Sixth Sense is best known for its ending, it's only because it perfectly ties into the first scene. 

M. Night Shyamalan's paranormal drama begins with respected child psychologist Malcolm Crowe and his wife Anna returning home to celebrate an award he's received for his work. 

Their celebration is abruptly interrupted when they discover a deeply troubled intruder, Vincent Grey, who used to be a patient of Malcolm. Despite Malcolm's best efforts to calm him, Vincent is too far gone, believing the doctor has failed him. While Malcolm continues to reason with him, Vincent nonchalantly shoots him in the stomach before turning the gun on himself.

The scenes introduce key themes of trauma, guilt, and the idea of unfinished business, all of which run throughout the story. Malcolm ultimately learns his client, Cole, is telling the truth about seeing dead people when he revisits old taped interviews with Vincent, making the beginning interaction hit harder when watched again.

Despite limited screen time, Donnie Wahlberg gives a towering performance as Vincent, convincingly coming across as a man at the end of his rope.

Sure, The Sixth Sense has been deservingly immortalised by its twist, but that shouldn't draw attention away from its flawless prologue.