20 Greatest Opening Scenes In Horror Movie History

The Movie: Poor Carrie White, she never had a chance. Her mother was a religious nut, her father was long gone, and she’s painfully shy. Things at school aren’t much better, she’s routinely bullied and treated like a freak. She also struggles with the realization that she posses telekinetic powers.

The Opening Scene: The opening scene of Brian De Palma’s brilliantly executed psychological tale cleverly tricks the audience. A showering Carrie is shot in soft focus, idolized by the lens as an image of pure teenage beauty (despite her rather gawky looks).

The accompanying tranquil soundtrack and Carrie’s apparent enjoyment of the warm water sets the scene as a voyeuristic pleasure for the audience. However, this is all ripped away as Carrie’s period begins and the poor naive girl thinks she’s dying (all while her classmates relentlessly taunt her). The original image of beauty is immediately replaced by the horror of running menstrual blood. Not a pretty sight.