10 Horror Movies That Open With One Amazing Kill
9. Saw IV
Saw IV starts off with two strangers, Art and Trevor, waking up inside an abandoned mausoleum, chained by the neck to a winch. Trevor's eyelids are sealed shut so he doesn't have a clue where he is or what's happening. Art can't explain the situation to him since his lips are sewn shut. A real predicament if ever there was one.
Despite Art's desperate mumbles for his companion to calm down, Trevor pulls on the chain, activating the winch. When Art sees the chains are being reeled into the machine, he realises they'll be strangled to death unless they escape. When Art spots a key around Trevor's neck, he deduces it must free him from his chain and vice versa.
Though Art wants to rescue his fellow prisoner, Trevor attacks him, believing he means him harm. With the clock ticking, Art has no choice but to slaughter Trevor to save his own skin.
What's remarkable about this set-up is how nothing is explained verbally. Despite the fact there's no instructions like in other Saw movies, it's easy to follow what's happening thanks to the visual storytelling.
However, this fact makes this scene nerve-wracking to watch since it's obvious what to do out of context.