10 Most Harrowing Opening Scenes In Horror Movies

Now a cult favourite amongst horror fans (well, the opening bit it at least), late 70s chiller When A Stranger Calls sees kindly babysitter Jill (Carol Kane) terrorised by psychopathic killer.

The film overall leaves something to be desired but its opening sequence is one of the best the genre has to offer.

The part in question sees Jill about to settle down for the night after putting the children to bed. She then receives a menacing phone call where an icy voice asks if she's "checked on the children".

Though she initially dismisses it as a prank call, the phone continues to ring over the course of the scene with the same voice asking the same question. Slowly, the tension begins to ramp up as the calls become more frequent and intense. Eventually, the sound of the phone ringing is reason enough for viewers to be afraid.

From the foreboding atmosphere it's clear that nothing good can come from this situation. And when it's revealed that the calls are coming from inside the house, the terror reaches a new frenzied height as Jill tries to make her escape.