10 Opening Horror Scenes NOTHING Like The Rest Of The Movie

After the success of Stephen Sommers' The Mummy, the action-horror director got to work on another potential monster franchise with 2004's Van Helsing - the titular slayer facing off against Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, and Dracula.

To the disappointment of many, this gothic thriller was let down by cheesy dialogue, cheap visuals, and tasteless action. Worse still, Van Helsing seemed like it was going to be amazing, beginning with Victor Frankenstein bringing his Creature to life on the orders of his master, Dracula. After the Transylvanian Count murders the good doctor, a mob chases the Creature to a windmill before incinerating it, seemingly killing the bolt-necked brute.

Not only does this opening contain the fast-paced action we'd come to expect from Sommers, it captured the soul of the Universal monster movies thanks to the monochromatic aesthetic, use of miniatures, and the over-the-top performances. Also, the actor portraying the mad scientist = Samuel West - looks the spit of Colin Clive who played the titular role in 1931's Frankenstein. Though Dracula's true form and full power is only implied, enough is revealed about the Prince of Darkness to highlight the immense threat he poses.

It honestly feels like the director put all of his best ideas in this scene, since the next 120 minutes is a total slog by comparison.