ThirdFilmDeconstruction:Saw(DirectedbyJamesWan)

Theme
:SlashHorror

Backgroundofdirectorsstyle:
Wanisverywellknownforthehorrorfilmshecreates,he
managestoappealtomanyaudiences.HewasfirstmadebigafterdirectingSaw,andother
lowbudgetmovies.

Theclapofthunderanddarkflickering
backgroundisaconventionofhorrormovies,
whichmeansrightfromthestartthisfilmconnotes
horror.ThefilmthenbeginswithaLionsGateFilm
Productionlogo,doingmoreresearchintoLGF,
theyarewellknownforproducingmajorhorror
films.

ThenextproductioninthissequenceisTwisted
Pictures,theeffectofthebarbedwirewrappedaround
thetitleandthesharpobjectaroundknottedin
betweenthemcouldrepresent/foreshadowpeople
findingthemselvesintosadistictraps,andhavingto
escape,despitethepaintheymaygothrough.The
nameoftheproductionsitselfimpliessomething
surreal.Doingfurtherresearchonpreviousworkfrom
thisproduction,IhavefoundthatTwistedPicturesare
mostwellknownfortheirhorrorgenrefilms,which
haveledthemtocollaboratewiththeprevious
productionshown:LionsGateFilms.

Thisisthenfollowedbyacloseupshot.Thelight
thatspansacrosstheman'sface,showingthat
hissurroundingsarepitchblack.Thisbecomes
unnervingtothewatcher,duetothecloseupof
themanlookingunconsciousandthe
exaggeratedsoundofwater,suggestthatthis
characterisunderwater.Theactualtitleofthefilm
isthenshown,thefactthatthisisshownafter
presentingthecharactersface,makesthe
watcherknowthatthismalecharacteristhemain
role.

Thereisthenasecondcloseupoftheobject
highlightingitsimportance.Thenondiegeticsoundof
themancomingupfromthewater,wouldpossibly
maketheviewerjump.Thereisaveryquickcloseup
ofhisleg,whereweseethatheischained,thiscould
linktothetrappedsymbolthatwasportrayed
previouslywhentheTwistedPicturetitlewas
presented.Themanisinthedarkness,wherewecan
onlyseehimduetotheobject.Theobjectthengoes
downthedrain,whichwashisonlysourceoflighting,
whichmeanshesnowincompletedarkness

Thenextshotisamediumshot.Hereweseethe
characterfeelingaroundalmostlikeheisblond.This
showsthateventhoweareabletoseehim,hecan
notseeanythingatall,becausethereisnolight.At
thispointboththecharacterandtheviewerare
confusedastowhatshappening.Thereisthena
unknownvoice,theman'spanicisshownbyhis
heavybreathing,theviewerseyescontinuetobe
drawntothepureblackriggedlineinthe
background

Asthelightsgoonincannon,wegetabetter
viewofthemaincharacter,thereisthena
shotthatgivesthevieweralookatthescene
throughthemaincharacter'seyes,weseethe
drasticadjustmentfrompuredarknesstothe
brightnessashisvisionishazyandthen
graduallybeginstoadapt.Wethengeta
mediumshotofthecharacterwho
presuminglyistheowneroftheanonymous
voiceinthepreviousscene.Incomparisonto
themaincharacter,heismuchmorepale,
bruisedandsweaty.Thisimpliesthatthis
characterhasbeenherelonger,andbythe
looksofit,ithasmadehimweaker.The
camerathenpansdownrevealingadead
man,bleedingfromhishead,theshotquickly
changestoataperecorder,thenahandgun.
Thiscouldforeshadowtheimportanceof
theseitemslateroninthefilm.Thehandgun
alsomakestheusernowrealisehowthe
characterlayingdeadontheflooractuallydie.
Itthenimpliesthatthisissomesortofgame
thathasbeenplayedbyotherbefore,and
losingresultsindeath.Thenextshotis
throughtheothercharacterseyesstaringat
themaincharacterashecomestorealisation
ofwhereheisandbeginstopanic.Wealso
seemajorityoftheroom,itisnowclearthatis
itarundownbrokenbathroom.