1. Saw II<br />We recently studied the horror film saw 2, where we explored the four technical aspects of mise-en-scene, editing, camerawork and sound. All four aspects tied in to present a range of themes such as death, torture, psychological games .etc. These themes created a sense of fear which is used to capture and engage the audience. This was done effectively for example the significant mask was used as a constant reminder of the twisted games played by Jigsaw, and was also used to taunt the audience. Similarly to this, the use of sound helps to portray the torture and violence throughout the film for example the amplification of the gun shot when the first victim is killed.<br />Editing is used cleverly almost to create a sense of realism. It begins with a man who has his head and body in a strap full of nails, there are quick cuts emphasising tension and the pain that the man is feeling and is to come. Jump cuts from the man’s face to the TV implied that something important was going to emanate from there. The screen flashes to the key and back to the man to highlight the fast pace, his fear and how the key is a main source of information during the film. The jump cuts between the key and his eye shows the depth to which he has to go to retrieve it. When the old man is telling the story to the policeman there were flashings to scenes of blood, this emphasised the gruesome twist to the bloody scenes that are about to come. There are quick cuts between all the people imprisoned to reveal the traumatic and frightening circumstances they are all facing. One of the people imprisoned who was forced to take drugs has quick cuts between her current state and her taking the drugs which could highlight the serious consequences of these drugs to her system. The quick cuts between the girl and the syringes could reflect her addiction and the effect it could have on the rest of the film. There were quick cuts between the man trying to stop the timer and the woman about to die, these quick cuts build up drama and tension; implying that there is little time left in their minds and emphasises its psychological thriller genre. When the two men are fighting there are also quick cuts which show the speed at which they were hitting each other. There are flashes of somebody in a mask when the policeman confronts the bathtub and this could suggest the fear, panic and anxiety.<br />Camerawork is effectively used to emphasise torment, the infallibility of Jigsaw and his power over them throughout the film, this is how the idea of a human monster is developed. Differently in saw unlike most films, we witness people in two ways, through a screen within a screen and through a normal viewing. A high angle is often used to highlight people in a belittled way. When watching normally, it clearly distinguishes them as victims within the film and again emphasises their entrapment and enclosure. This is cleverly complimented through the use of the television screens in Jigsaw’s workhouse; it enables us to see it in the perspective of people such as Eric and the other police officers watching the victims being tormented, again reinforcing the idea of the victims being helpless and that Eric and the officers just have to sit back and watch it. This is combined with the idea of a psychological game, and the dialogue as Jigsaw repeatedly tells john to “Sit back.” Almost as if Jigsaw is getting a thrill out of watching their torment, as we see a close up on his concentrated face. Close ups were used successfully to show the reactions and facial expressions of almost everyone in the film. This is also done to introduce characters as show their significance throughout the film. The close up is effectively used when emphasising the characters torment and pain, for example there is a close up on Amanda’s sunken in eyes and damaged skin as she gets pushed into the haystack of needles. Here we see her literately cry in pain, and you watch it almost as if you are her experiencing the same pain. This is done to engage the audience, almost to make them feel like they’re participating in the film, giving them a sense of involvement. Establishing long shots are used to show the two main settings of the film: being Jigsaw’s workhouse and the old house where the victims are captured. This ties in with the mise-en-scene as it allows the audience to scan the room and get an insight of Jigsaw’s work and why he does it because there is paper on the wall with his drawings and plans written up on them. Camera work is mainly used as an advantage as it allows everything to be exposed on the screen, being a horror this exposes all the gruesome images such as blood splatters, cut off arms and legs and dying victims again cleverly combining with mise-en-scene. A variation of shots throughout the film enables the viewer to have control and also see things through different characters perspectives particularly a point of view. For example at the end of the film when Eric is tricked into going to the other house, both Eric and the audience realise it was a plan as Amanda appears through an open door. We see this is in Eric’s point of view so the camera is slightly tilted as he is looking up at her. This creates a sense of vulnerability as he is belittled and helpless which makes the audience feel that way too. <br />The mise-en-scene used in Saw II is generally interior including: the main house where the people are kept and Jigsaw’s hide out. The interior settings are shot on location which makes the film seem more realistic and therefore emphasises the ‘horror’ aspect of the film which makes the audience feel involved and be on the edge of their seats. Whenever the camera is focused on something in the house, there is very little lighting or it is sparsely scattered throughout the room. This mirrors the little faith the characters have about their future as they don’t know whether they will live. The main object used is a TV which only shows the face of Saw which is puppet like and is used to emphasise the scary element. The image on the TV screen is unclear, black and white and very fuzzy; this could represent how unclear the people’s lives are within the house which adds to the tension and excitement felt by the audience. A watch or clock is a repetitive prop used throughout the film which counts down the time they have to figure things out but it could also be a countdown to their lives ending. This makes the audience empathise for the characters and hope they get out in time. There is lots of space within the scenes as there is a lack of furniture which may represent the lack of hope they all have in the chance of survival. It also implies how simple it would have been to get out if they had just listened to jigsaw. The characters are dressed casually which shows that they are just normal people who were living their day to day lives; this might make the audience feel sorry for them as they don’t deserve to be in the position they are in. <br />Sound is used effectively throughout the film as it complements the setting and images on the screen. It is also used to create an element of fear through amplification. The opening diegetic sound, that plays whilst we establish where we are, is quite frantic and high pitched. The negligence of sound soon after that, just before Jigsaw starts to speak in his video creates an eerie effect also the absence of the sound reflects the absence of there being anyone to help Mike get rid of the death mask attached around his neck. The enhanced diegetic sound of the stopwatch ticking reflects the panic Mike is feeling and it also reflects the fact that with each tick represents being a second closer to his death. As the film progresses it shows Obi end his life in an oven the enhanced sound of each gas tap being turned on at least 5 seconds before the boom sounds that it has been lit creates tension for Obi and shows the slow torture he is about to endure at the hands of Jigsaw and his fellow ‘Housemates’. The story then grows so that there is hatred between Amanda and a violent male participant in ‘The Game’. He feels such hate towards Amanda and such desperation to survive that he throws her into a pit of needles in order to find a key. The sound of needles breaking is increased so it is the main noise you concentrate on as well as the pain filled cry’s and sobs from Amanda as over one hundred needles and broken glass pierce her skin which makes the viewer squirm under the mentally induced sympathy pain created by this scene. Finally at the end of the film the non-diegetic music playing over Amanda’s voice explaining that if he (Detective Mathews) had just played by the rules creates a feeling of regret and fear as it is revealed that the son was in the safe by his own feet the whole time and if he had just listened to Jigsaw at the start he would be with his son able to save him but instead he is locked up in chain where it all started in Saw.<br />