The narrative theory illustrated in the opening scene of Saw VII is the enigma code. The audience does not know how the three adults came to be chained and fighting for their lives, or why this is their punishment. As the scene unfolds, more information is revealed but an element of mystery remains. Stills from the scene show the confusion and shock of the actors as they have no knowledge of why they are in this situation, as well as the guilt of one actor when their secret is exposed. A timer creates tension as the fate of their lives must be decided within a minute, despite the audience knowing the consequences.

1. NARRATIVE THEORIES
SAW VII
BY CHERRY MEEKS

2. WHAT IS THE NARRATIVE THEORY?
• THE NARRATIVE THEORY FOR THIS OPENING SCENE IS THE ENIGMA CODE, AS IT
BEGINS WITH THREE ADULTS CHAINED FIGHTING FOR THE CHANCE TO STAY
ALIVE.
• THE AUDIENCE ARE TOLD WHY THEY ARE IN THIS SITUATION HOWEVER, THEY
ARE UNAWARE OF HOW THE ACTORS GOT TO WHERE THEY ARE AND WHY THIS
IS THE PUNISHMENT.

3. STILLS-HOW THE NARRATIVE THEORY IS
ILLUSTRATED?
THIS STILL IS FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING OF THE SEQUENCE
WHERE YOU SEE THE CONFUSION
ON THE ACTORS FACE, THEY ARE IN
SHOCK DUE TO THE HORRIFIC
STATE THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN
AND WITH NO KNOWLEDGE AS TO
OF WHY.
THE NEXT PART OF THE SCENE
WHEN JIGSAW EXPLAINS MORE TO
THE VULNERABLE ACTORS BEING
MORE IS REVEALED, HOWEVER
STILL LEAVES AN ELEMENT OF
MYSTERY.

4. STILLS-HOW THE NARRATIVE THEORY IS
ILLUSTRATED?
THIS STILL REPRESENTS THE GUILT
FROM THE YOUNG GIRL AS JIGSAW
HAS JUST REVEALED HER DIRTY
SECRET ABOUT CHEATING ON THE
TWO MEN. THIS GIVES THE
AUDIENCE AN INSIGHT AS TO WHY
SHE IS IN A HYSTERICAL STATE.
THE TIMER IN THIS STILL CREATES
TENSION AND HIGH
APPREHENSION AS THE FATE OF
THEIR LIVES HAVE TO BE DECIDED
WITHIN 60 SECONDS. EVEN
THOUGH THE AUDIENCE ARE
TOLD WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS A
RESULT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR
ACTIONS.

5. STILLS-HOW THE NARRATIVE THEORY IS
ILLUSTRATED?
THIS STILL OF THE WOMEN
BEING BRUTALLY KILLED,
SHOWS THE AUDIENCE HOW A
THRILLER CAN HAVE
UNEXPECTED EVENTS. ALONG
WITH THIS THE ELEMENT OF
MYSTERY STILL FOLLOWS AS
NO ONE IS AWARE AS TO WHY
JIGSAW ENJOYS WATCHING
OTHERS SUFFER.