"You know what they say: you only get one chance at a good first impression. And by impression, we of course mean "terrifying the hell out of your audience right out of the gate."
Horror films, perhaps more than any other genre, thrive on mood. A spooky cinematic outing can have a slice of cheese for a budget but if the vibe is right, anything is possible. And the best way to set said mood is to grab your audience by the throat right from the jump. Why waste an opening credits sequence just on credits. That's an opportunity to let your future victims, uh, I mean viewers know what kind of bloodbath they've signed up for.
So, what makes a horror opening credits sequence great rather than just good? Well, there's no sure-fire recipe. But hiring Bernard Herrmann (or pretending to be Bernard Herrmann) seems to be a pretty solid strategy if the list below is anything to go by. Evocative, abstract imagery is also a plus. And a visually striking title card never hurt anybody."
