20 Best Opening Scenes From Recent Horror Movies
8. The Long Walk
The recent adaptation of Stephen King's magnificent dystopian novel The Long Walk does an outstanding job of outlining the stakes in its first few minutes.
The first thing we see is the text from a typed letter to protagonist Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) informing him that he's been selected to participate in the titular competitive walk to the death.
The letter quickly confirms the dire economic condition of the United States, before a radio broadcast can be heard discussing a recent war which has devastated the country.
We then see Ray being driven to the walk's starting line by his mother, Ginnie (Judy Greer), who is naturally distraught that her son is about to take part in a contest that will almost certainly end his life.
Greer is magnificent here, giving Ray a big hug and then desperately calling him back for another, as she breaks down and clutches him with all her might.
It brilliantly sells the danger that Ray is facing to the audience, no matter that Ray himself seems ready and determined to face it head-on.