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Julie Guerrero

ENGL 1301-115

Prof. Sharity Nelson

11 October 2023

Saw X movie poster analysis

Saw X, known for its iconic Jigsaw puppet, is part of a horror film franchise that has been

going on from 2004 to the earliest release, 2023. A dark, jet-black background with the

infamous Jigsaw face glaring back at the viewer. At first glance, this movie poster is just

Jigsaw’s face with a little malicious grin. Once taken a deeper look, Jigsaw’s face is made up of

human limbs: arms, forearms, legs, and feet. The human limbs, red tint, and gears in this visual

text are used to symbolize and foreshadow what the film will be about. By making this

observation, it is evident that Jigsaw is a puppet with malicious intentions. What is a human

being with warmth and livelihood to him is a piece of meat and bones.

As previously mentioned, Jigsaw’s face is the only thing visible on the movie poster,

despite him being a full puppet with a body. He is made up of what is assumed to be his victim’s

limbs. They are all bent in order to construct his features. Two elbows bent at a ninety-degree

angle create the sides of his nose. His red swirly cheeks are made up of his multiple victim’s

hands and arms. Jigsaw’s lower face is combined with fisted hands, recreating his puppet-like

chin. The creator of this poster purposely constructed Jigsaw’s entire face into opened and closed

hands, hinting at the theme of the movie: survival. On his forehead, the mind, peoples hands are

opened and grasping up above. Suggesting they could be reaching out for help from a higher

power. As it lowers, they slowly start gripping onto each other, arm to arm, hands to forearm, as
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if gripping for one another's help. The victims are still desperate for the sake of their lives. Once

the image gets to its lowest point, the chin, the arms are now closed in a tight fist. After being in

desperation for help, they are now, what seems to be, fighting back to save themselves. Either by

chopping off their limbs or putting up a fight with Jigsaw himself. The victims realize they are

the only ones who can get themselves out of the sinister situation.

In addition, the Saw X movie poster consists of only three simple colors: black, grey, and

red. Although to one might seem like just any other colors, these specific ones were chosen to

add on to the gore of the movie. The black and grey are used to cast a shadowy, dark, and

sinister-like feel to the film. The hollow black background contrasts the pop of red on Jigsaw’s

eyes, cheeks, and mouth. The red tint making up his eyes and mouth symbolizes the blood of his

victims. To survive, they had to mutilate their limbs off their body to escape and be let go from

their machine. Jigsaw’s face is a deathly white with a grey tone but bright red swirly cheeks.

Suggesting the death of his victims gives him life. The choice of color scheme adds on to the

sinister visuals of the image.

So on, Jigsaw’s eyes consist of two gears, one on each eye. The movie poster suggests

that there will be machines, most likely torture machines, to cut off the limbs surrounding it. The

imagery can also be used to infer that Jigsaw is no human at all and is more of a machine with no

emotions. In order to commit to the murderous acts he does, he must not have human-like

feelings. It is said the eyes are the window to the soul. He has no remorse for his actions, thus the

machine making up his eyes. Jigsaw has no soul, which makes it easier for him to watch his

victims get tortured and mutilated under his surveillance. To make sure everything goes

according to his sinister plan.

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All in all, Saw X is known for its spine-chilling, gory tactical machines, which is why

they used these specific visual features. It is typical for movies of this horror genre to use similar

imagery in order to entice the audience. The movie poster is just as significant as the movie

itself, it is what reels the viewers in. The graphics excite the fandom of this gruesome film series

because it’s what is expected from the Saw franchise. The gore and sinisterness of the movie are

all implemented on the poster itself with the help of the color scheme and detailing on Jigsaw’s

face.
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Appendix

Figure 1. Movie poster, Saw X (2023)

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Citations

Movie poster for Saw X. http://www.impawards.com/2023/saw_x_ver6.html Accessed October

10, 2023.