10 Opening Horror Scenes NOTHING Like The Rest Of The Movie

William Friedkin's The Exorcist gave birth to some of the most petrifying moments in cinema, including the 360-degree headspin, the demon face jump-scare, and of course the exorcism itself.

Due to the abundance of spine-tingling shots, it's easy to forget about The Exorcist's preface, especially since it's the only scene that doesn't revolve around Regan. Instead, the scene in question focuses on Father Merrin, who's excavating a dig in Iraq. 

After discovering a Babylonian talisman of a demon, Merrin becomes deeply worried and marches off. As he wanders across the archeological site, he sees an ominous statue of the same demon leering at him, amplifying his concerns exponentially.

Although this scene is unnerving, it's very different from everything else that's to come. The Exorcist is filled with sequences that are crass, vulgar, gross, shocking, and violent. However, this opening scene takes a subtle approach, implying this talisman has awakened an almighty evil upon the world, which Merrin is fully aware of. The scares here aren't as in-your-face as later scenes, but the statue's ominous appearance alerts Father Merrin (and the audience) that they will soon bear witness to something truly horrifying.