10 Scary Movies We Knew Would Be Masterpieces in the First 10 Minutes

The article argues that a horror film’s opening can quickly signal its atmosphere, themes and potential, drawing viewers into the story. It highlights ten films whose first ten minutes impressed the author, including the recent film *Sinners* and the slasher *Black Christmas*.

In *Sinners*, the opening shows sole survivor Sammy returning to his father’s church after a night of horror, introducing the film’s tensions around music, faith and authority. *Carnival of Souls* begins with Mary surviving a car crash into a river, while *Black Christmas* uses a stalker’s point-of-view shots and a killing to establish its suspenseful mood. The article also credits *Carnival of Souls* with influencing later horror filmmakers.