There is a fast and furious escalationinScream.
A slower, atmospheric start is seen inThe Exorcist.
While its hard to craft a newhorror movie openingthat will become unforgettable, its not impossible.
Image by Nimesh Niyomal Perera
DirectorDavid Priordid it with his directorial debut,The Empty Man.
The supernatural mystery unfairly went under the radar when it was released in 2020.
And David Prior did this with a monster you would not want to encounter.
On the trail of a missing girl, an ex-cop comes across a secretive group attempting to summon a terrifying supernatural entity.
The Empty Man Begins With a Hike Gone Wrong
Ura Valley, Bhutan, 1995.
A group of friends goes hiking in the Himalayas, putting distance between them and society.
Soon, Ruthie experiences strange noises and sightings the others dont.
Something is closing in on them, and they have no way to stop it.
Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) is part of an archaeological dig in the desert of Iraq.
There is very little score, the howling winds and thegroups isolationstir up the feeling that something isnt right.
The visual brings a deep feeling of discomfort from how unnatural the skeleton is.
Cosmic horror takes the shape of a death cult and an unseen entity.
He barely gets out his warning to Greg.
These hints of cosmic horror burrow deep into your mind as the friends become prey to a powerful monstrosity.
The ancient entity is left mysterious, but viewers understand that the human characters are no match for it.
The Empty Manis currently available to stream on FX Now in the U.S.
WATCH ON FX NOW
Image via Warner Bros.
Image via 20th Century Fox
