1. Saw 1
Cinematography
In the saw opening scene the lighting is dark this creates a tense
suspicious atmosphere and makes the audience wonder what is
going to happen next. An extreme close up is used so the audience
can identify the man and understand that he has been trapped in a
bath in an abandoned bathroom. The lighting is quite blue which
connotes a cold atmosphere and an eerie mood. A spot light is
shone on the characters face so we get a vivid view of who the
character is. The mood becomes eerie as high shots are used to
make the characters feel small and intimidated; this makes the
audience aware something sinister is going to happen. Zooming in
and zooming out is used to cause confusion and the loss of control
the characters have as they are chained to an abandoned toilet.
Some of the shots are blurred this shows that the antagonist is hiding
his identity from the audience, suggesting he is evil in some way. A
rack and pull focus used to create fast pace and build up the tense
atmosphere. The lighting in the abandoned room is very faintly lit
which creates a suspicious feel. From the poor lighting we can
presume the character is trapped in an unknown room from the real
world and someone has got him there. In the opening scene the dark
lighting is created by only the key & back lights which produce sharp
contrasts of light and dark areas. Also this forms deep distinct
shadows.
2. Mise en scene
The scene is in an abandoned bathroom, this suggests the situation is
intense and strange. The scene starts with a man drowning in a bath
tub tied up to a chain which shows he is being controlled and
someone delusional is operating it. The character is wearing scruffy
ripped clothes implying he has been attacked in some way, also the
clothes are discoloured which could suggest he has been trapped in
the room for a long period of time. However it is clear to see that the
men is wearing basic jeans and a checked shirt which shows the man
is an ordinary guy however he is involved in a fatal situation. The
figures expression is scared and nervous; he is shaking whilst tied to
the corner of a room portraying he is in danger. The man is curled up
in a corner clenching his fists and shying away from what is in front
of him, this suggests he is scared and someone is superior over him.
The man’s face is quite pale and almost drained from colour which
shows he is losing control and had no control for a very long time.
The facial expression of the character communicates essential
information to the audience.
Sound
The opening scene starts with blurred dialogue as the man is
drowning in the bath as he is chained down. The sound here is quite
burred and vague as the man is in a daze as he is close to drowning.
There is loud coughing and choking sounds which suggests the man
has been under the water for a significant amount of time and is
struggling to stay stable. This could reflect that his body is close to
3. shutting down as the sound becomes quieter. In the background
there is a build up of vibrations which create suspense. There are
diegetic sounds of the character asking for help and also screaming
as the man is being controlled. Furthermore you can hear the
bashing of the chains together which emphasizes the struggle the
man is in to escape. Silence creates verisimilitude and helps the
audience to understand the bizarre situation. The figure is breathing
heavy and panting which suggests he is panicking and in desperation.
There is also an unknown voice which the audience presumes is the
evil controlling figure. Also there is the sound of a train in the
background which creates a fast pace which builds up the tension.
The sound differs from loud to quiet which could parallel the
characters drifting in and out of consciousness. Diegetic sound is
used as we can hear the chains bashing together and hitting the wall
as the man is trying desperately to escape. Furthermore non-
diegetic sound of a build-up of background music is used to provide a
spooky feel.
