10 More Horror Movies Which Broke The Fourth Wall To Scare You

The Twilight Zone: The Movie opens with two guys (Dan Aykroyd and Albert Brooks) driving on the country road, discussing the original Twilight Zone series. The passenger then beckons his friend to pull over so he can show him something "really scary".

When the driver agrees, his friend gleefully turns away from the screen. After a moment, he swings back, revealing he has transformed into a hideous monster. Letting out an animalistic growl, the shapeshifting beast strangles his victim while the iconic theme song plays in the background.

Although The Twilight Zone is a classic show, it's quite campy by modern standards, which is why many fans didn't expect this film adaptation to start with such a bone-chilling jump-scare.

What makes this prologue work so well is how it creates a personal connection with viewers. Although the scene is shot normally at first, it's directed straight at the camera when the driver mentions The Twilight Zone, as if he expects us to answer.

The passenger locks eyes with the audience again while asking if they want to see something scary and when he transforms. By encouraging viewers to get invested, it feels like this creature is going to attack them, magnifying the fear factor exponentially.