Trailer Analysis- Saw

Saw
Every puzzle has its pieces

Saw is memorable, Saw is brutal, Saw is everybody's nightmare and if it isn't before the film, it definitely will be after. Directed by James Wan, Saw is one of the most vicious and agonisingly painful movies of all film history for both characters and audiences. It was so intense and captivating that it inspired a whole series of Saw films which has just hit number seven, a huge range of merchandise and even its own theme park ride.

Saw begins with two of the main characters/victims awakening in a filthy public toilet and it totally focuses the next few hours on the most extreme physical, mental and emotional torture bearable. The twist is that it is all self inflicted.
As the film progresses we find out that they are not heroes to be or the stereotypical "good guys", this becomes more apparent with the films numerous flashbacks which highlight the protagonists motives. This goes against the normal horror movie or most movie genre conventions with there normally being a hero as the main characters. The iconic figure of the film is the protagonist of the film, named Jigsaw by the police for his unusual calling card and his puppet which is now as infamous for horror as Jigsaw himself. Saw uses many types of movie horror ranging from the victims savagely self inflicting pain and being psychologically torn to shreds to pure suspense and completely unguessable, unpredictable twists. Saw has only one star actor which is Danny Glover who plays Detective David Tapp, the man out to get Jigsaw and find his newest victims before its too late, this keeps to Danny's usual role.

The trailer starts with minimal sound with only the sound of a characters cameras flash until a floor board creeks and the character starts calls out and using his camera flash until a toys laugh rings out and the character is attacked by a rushing sound and creature in the darkness.
A heart beat pumps loudly to build the tension and carries on quieter when the protagonist starts talking. A rush of sudden sound matches the quick editing then an eery backtrack ,which is a composition of chanting, a higher pitched sort of wind or howl sound and a deep bass thud. The next sequence of fast paced clips is a almost tribal drumming which bursts louder with every text clip.


0.04-0.23:
This is the first sequence and it sets the viewers mindset for the film, the character is a dark flat and is having to use his cameras flash to see, this is an excellent use of light with the audience and character only being able to see for a flash every few seconds. It also uses silence to create this daunting, suspense filled atmosphere with only the cameras flash making and apart from him calling out. But he can hear someone in there with him as he searches the apartment, then an eerie, high pitch toy like laugh is heard before he is attacked in the pitch black.

0.30-0.35:
The second sequence uses lights turning on (like the camera flash) to show the scenario where two characters are. We can assume they're being held prisoners as they seem distressed, sweaty and scared by the lights finally being turned on to reveal their dank, putrid accommodation.
0.40-0.53:
The film is laid out for the audience. Firstly the perpetrator is watching the victims, secondly he knows their names; Dr Gordon and Adam. We then find out the perpetrators name and newspaper clippings which show he is a serial killer with a possible righteous reason. We then see one of those other victims in what was their "game" where they must find a path through razor wire. Then one of the characters claims that Jigsaw isn't a murderer as he's never technically killed anyone; this makes the other victims scene make sense as though he will obviously die, it will be from running through razor wire which he could choose not to do (obviously there is an unknown reason why he would prefer to get through razor wire which we don't know).
0.54-1.26:
The details of Saw are revealed. Dr Gordon must kill Adam to save his wife. We then hear Gordon explaining that Jigsaw kills by finding ways for his victims to kill themselves. It then flashes up with four words that describe Jigsaw, each one followed by a clip which explains it: firstly madman and Jigsaw explains that he's sick of people not appreciating what they have and so he's giving their lives purpose. Secondly voyeur- we meet the two detectives tracking Jigsaw and hear the female saying that Jigsaw likes to watch his victims play his games. Thirdly is psychopath- Dr Gordon realises that the saw Adam is using in vain to saw through his chain is supposed to be used on their feet. And lastly is prophet- Jigsaw tells us that most people are so ungrateful to be alive but not anymore.

1.28-1.33:
One of the detectives is asking a survivor of Jigsaw's games if he picked her for being a drug addict but she claims he saved her. This suggests that Jigsaws game showed her that her life was precious and so she is now not going to take it for granted proving Jigsaw right.