SAWFilm Analysis (Opening Two Minutes)

The film begins with a black screen, SFX have been added to show lighting and an abstract logo appears. As the lightning continues the logo becomes clearer to see. This logo works towards the Uses and Gratifications theory – Personal, as it is providing the viewer with a social status, of watching a Lions Gate Film.

This then fades to black to show the words ‘Twisted Pictures’, barbed wire then curves across the wording, with a stake in the middle. This creates a feeling for the viewer that this film is going to have some elements of horror, getting the target audience hooked in from the first few seconds.

The opening credits then begin, with a black background, and blue writing fading onto the screen. These credits are fairly typical and have been seen in most films – however they are effective.

The screen once again fades to black and we can see a blue light swimming through what appears to be water. This creates a hermeneutic code as the viewer is thinking, what is this and why is it here. This creates thoughts for the viewer.

Another fade to black shows the words ‘SAW’ in the centre of the screen. This then begins to disperse in a cloud effect creating an aura of mystery for the viewer.

We then see the blue light, moving through the water, only this time we can see more of its surroundings. An under-exposed shot shows a bath tub, and what appears to be a blue LED torch attached to a key ring, however the hermeneutic code created by it continues to make the viewer wonder what this object is.

The filmography in this scene is very effective, as they have been able to expose the lighting in such a way that you can only see what the LED light is shining on, yet you are still able to see the LED light on the key ring itself. This creates a hermeneutic code to the viewer, as it is making them wonder where it is, and also why this LED light is there.

This draws the viewers attention in, and works towards the uses and gratifications theory needs model in that it is playing on their mind and their emotions.

Suddenly the water begins to ripple, this makes the LED light disappear, it suggests movement somewhere else within the bath tub, and again makes the viewer wonder what is going on. They are asking – what has moved in the bath tub, what else is with the LED light.

The camera quickly cuts to show a face shaking within the water, as if a person is in there and only just realized that they are in the bath tub, or woken up. This shot again is under-exposed to create a dark environment and this creates tension and a horror element to the film.

We can hear the diegetic sound of coughing, as if the person was about to drown because they could not breathe, and the rippling of the water as they move within the bath tub. An extreme close up shows the face in some discomfort.

A fast cut shows a larger shot, again incredibly dark allowing the viewer to see only shadows as it is so underexposed. By creating a dark room they are creating a feeling of mystery and secrets. This is another feature common to horror films and works towards the uses and gratifications theory, creating fear within the viewer – fear of what is happening.

Another cut shows a very dark shot of which is unknown to the viewer. It suggests that the makers of the film wanted to create a hermeneutic code, as the viewer would want to know what this is. The water begins to ripple once again, and it appears to be a plug hole.

A cut to a wide angled shot, shows the bath tub again, this time we can see the person inside trying to get out by placing their hands on the sides, suggesting they are reaching to escape. By using such a dark shot it is hard for the viewer to see properly, but we can gather from this that the room they are in is dirty – a question asked would be: “Where are they?”

Suddenly as they begin to get out, the water moves more, and the LED light shining blue appears to be sucked into the hole we saw earlier. This makes the viewer wonder what is happening. The character begins to breathe heavily as they are getting out of the tub, suggesting they are scared or in some discomfort. The LED light gets sucked into the hole and disappears as they get out.

The character falls out of the bath tub, suggesting they did not know they were in there, and are therefore scared as a result trying to get out as quickly as possible. A pan down shows the character on the floor. The scene is so dark we struggle to see anything apart from the outlines and shadows of what is happening.

The character quickly jumps up and appears to be struggling to move, suggesting they are in some pain – combined with the apparent fear. They grab onto what appears to be a chain within the dark, dirty room. It is suggested this is not their home, and makes the viewer wonder where the character is, and why they are there.

It is made clear by the characters need to hold onto the walls that they cannot see and this is shown by the under-exposed, dark shot. They begin to look confused, and we can see their face for the first time with a full body shot. We hear the non-diegetic sound of the character shouting “Help, let me out of here”, this tells us they are trapped.

The character is breathing heavily and they have a scared expression on their face. They are shouting for help and suddenly we hear a noise from the background, the character quickly turns to see if there is anything behind them and then shouts to see if anyone is there. They continue to repeat, “let me out” – why are they there and why can’t they get out?

The character is breathing heavily and they have a scared expression on their face. They are shouting for help and suddenly we hear a noise from the background, the character quickly turns to see if there is anything behind them and then shouts to see if anyone is there. They continue to repeat, “let me out” – why are they there and why can’t they get out?

Summary of analysis:

• The character is in a bathtub, with a blue light floating around. The scene is very dark.• The character wakes up and realizes they are in a

bath tub, confused they clamour out of the bath tub.• They then realize they are in a room and do not know

how to get out. Panicking they begin to shout for help.

• The scene is underexposed and very dark, with the character clearly scared by the situation.• The only sound is diegetic.• There is little dialogue – mainly near the end of the

scene.