2. Narrative Enigma
The opening sequence of a film should create narrative enigma for
the audience. During the opening sequence of Saw I, many questions
are introduced to the audience such as:
• Who is the man lying on the floor with blood surrounding him?
• Who are the two men that are alive? Why are they chained by their
ankles?
• What object went down the plughole?
• Why is the man on the floor holding a gun and a dictaphone?
• What significance do these objects have?
• Who is talking to the man when he gets out of the bath?
• How long have all three men been there?
• Where are they?
3. Mis En Scene
Lighting- the beginning of the sequence is pitch black and then a torch floating in the bath water highlights the actors face but the audience are
still unaware of where he is, then when he steps out of the bath, the room is still dark however it’s as if the audience’s eyes have adjusted to the
darkness enough to see the character but he cannot see where he is himself. Then, harsh bright white lights are switched on one by one to
exaggerate the impact of the brightness which we then see through the characters squinted, uncomfortable facial expression. The fact that there
is a minute amount of lighting at the beginning creates mystery for the audience as they are unaware of where the character is and then as soon
as the lights are switched on the audience become more engaged as they are introduced to the rest of the mis-en-scene. Additionally, the
florescent lighting evokes connotations of hospitals and asylums which creates an eerie atmosphere and suggests something gruesome is going
to happen to the characters. There is a blue filter on the screen which makes it seem very cold and lifeless.
Costume- both characters costumes are dirty which signifies that they have been there for quite a while or suggests that they were somewhere
else before; this is reiterated through the characters costume of a shirt and jeans which evokes connotations of everyday, working-class people.
They look like the type of people that shouldn’t be there because they don’t look ‘dodgy’ or mysterious which creates a better relationship
between the audience and the characters because they can relate to them as individuals rather than villains. Lastly, the colours involved in all
three costumes are very dull and lifeless (brown, blue, black, grey and white) which helps add to the genre of the film; it’s a horror film, happiness
is rare and people are likely to die.
Props- the props involved are a bath, which is connotes death by drowning and death is a common theme involved in horror films. Also, the
opening sequence contains a that goes down the plughole with creates narrative enigma because it makes the audience question: why was that
key significant? What’s going to happen now it’s gone down the plughole? Furthermore, the characters are chained by the ankle- chains signify
that there is no escape and the grey metal connotes the damp, dark and dull atmosphere. There is also a rusty and dirty toilet with writing on it
which reveals the amount of time the toilet has been left there and tells the audience that other people have been there before as well as
suggesting that these people are going to be there for a long time otherwise why would they need a toilet? Moreover, you’ve got the gun which
connotes death and the dictaphone creates a sense of mystery because we don’t know what is recorded on it. They are placed in the mans
hands laying on the floor which could represent that the people who are supposedly alive need these props to survive.
Location- the location is typical to the horror genre because it is hidden away from society, this is because it looks like a basement which are
underground and in this case it’s very dirty, dark, damp, rusty, mouldy and run-down which signifies that something gruesome took place there; it’s the
complete opposite of a homely environment therefore it’s designed to make the characters feel fearful of the space they are in which then puts the
audience on edge. The location is claustrophobic , the bathroom in the opening sequence has no windows or visible doors and the fact that they are
chained up adds to the claustrophobia.
Facial expression- at the beginning of the opening sequence the lighting is dark therefore the audience cannot clearly see the characters faces
however when the lights come on, the character is exposed to the light and the close-up shot of the characters face enables the audience to see his
squinted and gritted expression. In addition, the audience is then aware of the other characters face as the camera switches to the man in the blue shirt
and we can clearly tell that he is shaken up and possibly fed up as we begin to realise that they have no idea where they are or why they are there.
4.
5. Camera
The significant camera shots used in the
opening sequence include the first close up
of the man who has just got out of the bath
to show the worry on his face, the master
shot of the bathroom after the lights are
switched on – this reveals to the audience
the whereabouts of the characters and
emphasises the bad situation the characters
find themselves in. The camera pans
around to the corpse and is then cut to a
bird’s eye view of the corpse lying in the
middle of the floor – these are the first shots
to reveal there is a corpse in the room as
well as the main characters.
The camera pans around after showing the two men
and reveals that there is a corpse in the middle of the
bathroom floor holding a gun. As the two men try to
move it is revealed that they are chained up to pipes at
opposite end of the bathroom and cannot escape, one
of them seems a lot more panicked and worried than
the other at this point and begins to scream for help.
During the opening sequence a lot of mid-
shots are used to show the characters facial
expressions and movements, you can also see
the grim setting in these shots. A long shot is
also used from a high angle when the
audience is exposed to the man lying on the
floor so they can visibly see he has been
injured but it also makes the audience feel
intimidated because the angle is so high.
This is a POV shot (point of view) which helps
us to feel as though we are in the place of the
character, seeing what he is seeing, feeling
what he is feeling. It helps us to connect with
him more. The shot is blurred which gives the
impression that the man is in a daze and feels
confused.
6. Credits
At the beginning of the open sequence the audience are introduced to the institutions that helped
produce the film. ‘Lionsgate’ and ‘Twisted Pictures’ are the two production companies that
appear on the screen during the opening sequence. Lionsgate, which are an institution that have
produced many horror films such as ‘The Devil’s Rejects’ and ‘Cabin Fever’. Before the institution
is shown we have an animation of the inside of a door lock, this hints that the movie could be
about being kidnapped, trapped or hidden. Also the colours behind the lock are red and rusty
signifying that evil can happen behind closed doors. Twisted Pictures an American independent
production company is introduced by barbed wire wrapping around the text signifying this film
could contain torture and pain. Additionally, the animation of a blade dropping through the type
then spinning tightening the barbed wire connotes gruesome and gory images.
7. Sound
• The sound in the scene is mostly dialogue between the two characters and a screaming
scared reaction, a slow non-diegetic piece of music is played throughout the start whilst
the scene is in darkness – this builds up tension and adds to the audiences suspense as
they do not yet know what is about to be revealed. When the lights are switched on they
make a loud noise and this with the slow music and darkness just before creates a
contrast and may give the watching audience a scare.
• There is diegetic sound of the water in the bath which helps to create reality of a near
death experience which is typical to the horror genre. It sounds as though it has been
enhanced to signify that the room is completely empty however we find out that this is not
true later on in the sequence.
• During the extreme close-up shots of the man lying on the floor, the sound effects of a
metal material clashing increases in volume to create impact for the audience and draw
their attention to the significance to the man on the floor.
8. Conventional Elements
The opening sequence of Saw contains some conventional elements of the horror genre.
• Firstly, the opening sequence is set in an isolated place which is typical to the horror
genre.
• The lighting starts off dark with a filter of blue which connotes the cold atmosphere and
then when the lights are switched on they are harsh which signifies the discomfort the
characters are in.
• In terms of sound, it is used to create tension in horror films- in the opening sequence of
Saw both diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used for dramatic effect. It contains a
combination of both however more non-diegetic sound is used in Saw’s opening
sequence to create mood; make the audience feel how the character’s are feeling.
• The editing in the opening sequence ranges from a slow pace to a fast pace. The
moment he steps out of the bath it starts to get faster as the tension builds- this is also
typical of horror films.
• The opening sequence also identifies props you would commonly see in a horror film
e.g. chains and a gun.
However the opening sequence fails to present:
• The conventional character types associated with horror films such as the hero and the
villain and goes straight in with narrative enigma.
• In terms of camera shots, it doesn’t use any hand held shots which are often used In
horror films to create the characters horrifying experience for the audience.
• The only themes you can identify are death and isolation- horror films could contain
more.
