The short film Saw is set in a derelict industrial factory and hospital. David awakens trapped in the factory with a bear trap on his face. Through instructions from the villain Jigsaw on a television, David must find the key to the trap or it will activate. The contrasting hospital setting provides no escape from David's trauma. Editing uses rapid cuts to build tension as David searches desperately. The film's techniques isolate and manipulate the character to terrify the audience.

1. Saw
Micro Analysis
Director: James Wan,2010. Genre- Torture Porn

2. Mise-en-scene
• The short film Saw is set in what seems to be a derelict industrial factory facility. The location is
abandoned which is typical of the horror genre as it creates isolation for the victim. The industrial
theme is carried over to the props as they are mechanical and often metal to cause more damage. The
overall location is tinted heavily green, this has significant value to the short film as the colours
connotation is envy or jealousy, the Saw franchise is based around a killer who is terminally ill this
shows that the victims are chosen because that do not value or deserve the life they have therefore
must earn it through completing challenges, hence the use of green shows the villains feeling toward
the victims that they are ungrateful. In addition to the location the green tint and derelict look shows
sharp contrast to the hospital where it is significantly cleaner, the fact that the factory is dirty
highlights to the audience that it is unpleasant and not a place anyone would want to be, which
creates empathy to the main character David who is trapped there.
• Hospital- The station is shown almost completely white this implies the industrialized, methodical and
sterilized environment that the character is in. The tint of blue is contrast of the factory's green, the
blue shows isolation and coldness which is reflected in David loneliness and the inspectors uncaring
demeanor. Furthermore the use of hospitals is typical of the horror type movies, however in Saw it
relates to the actions of the main character and what he had to do to escape, the association of
hospitals and medical instruments and the characters props of needles and scalpels shows that David
is still somehow linked or trapped in the factory most likely his mental state.
• The interrogation room in the hospital is deliberately show smaller , through the close camera shots
and lack of character movement around the room, it also has the same isolated feeling as the hospital,
implying that David is still trapped however this time by the authorities.
Location

3. Lighting
• The lighting in the extract depends on the location of the character, for example in the hospital
where David is first attacked it is well lit and tinted blue to show the hospital is institutionalized
and methodical by the atmosphere of being cold and detached, moreover because David is
attacked in what seems to be daylight it shows how in control the villain is and that the main
character in not safe anywhere, this breaks the conventions of horror as the protagonist is
typically safe in light, this creates tension in the audience because of how the antagonist is
presented as stronger.
• The lighting of the factory is considerably darker than the hospital to show the audience that the
victim is in danger. In addition to this the darkness created shadows and plays on the victims and
audiences sense of paranoia and tension. The green tint shows the setting is dirty and old but
also a sharp contrast to the hospitals atmosphere. As the hospital is presented as detached and
impersonal the contrast of the green and the blue means that whatever happens in the factory
room is now personal and calculated towards David also shown by the fact the killer knows who
David is.
• The lightning gives flashes of white light on screen, which is blinding to the main character, the
random flashes of light disorientate both David and the audience as they cannot see what is
happening around them, furthermore the lightning has the same effects as shadows as it hides
the character and scene from the audience momentarily because of this the audience relates to
David struggle as they are going though the same visual experience

4. Costume
• David’s costume consists of casual everyday clothes, which helps the audience relate to the
character moreover instill the idea that it could happen to anyone. The plain white shirt depicts
David's innocence which id typical of horror films to dress the victim in white, in addition to this it
shows a clear opposite to the villain of jigsaw who is dressed in black. As the extract progresses
the shirt becomes bloodstained the red means he is now part of the killers intent, specifically his
innocence when he killed another to save himself.
• Inspector- The police inspector is dressed in a formal suit showing he takes his job seriously,
because of this it implies that he is not personal with David, when shown the two characters
interaction it heightens David's sense of isolation. The suit the inspector is wearing is slightly
creased which shows to the audience that it has been worn for along time, most likely all day,
because of the duration the clothes are worn it reflects the characters demeanor of wanting the
questioning of David to end quickly and his lack of energy.
• Jigsaw- The puppets costume is a suit and bow tie, this iconic look is established to differentiate
the victim and the villain, the clashes of red of the bow and face paint against the black hint at the
fact that there will be bloodshed, as the connotation of red is violence and injury. The puppets
make-up and costume makes him look like a carnival toy, this shows that what he is doing and that
the actions of David trying to escape is considered entertaining and something close to a theme
park attraction as the victim is made to perform impossible tasks to win Jigsaws game.

5. Props
• The bear trap is important as it is the source of the danger but also shows how the villain kills. The look
of the device is mechanical and industrial matching the location of the scene, in addition to this as it is
made of metal it indicates the amount of damage it can inflict on the victim, because the prop is on
David’s face it makes it easier to show his reaction to he device and how much fear it inflicts, moreover
the audience becomes tense of the scene because the actions of the killer becomes more personal as a
persons face is their identity, this shows the antagonist has single the main character out.
• Jigsaw is considered a prop as well as a character, his iconic look makes the audience think of carnivals
and fair ground attractions this causes the audience to think that David's struggles are a source of
entertainment. As jigsaw is controlled by the killer, the puppet symbolizes the fact that the villain can
manipulate, in the case of the victims he can force them do things which are morally questionable or
which led them to injure or kill themselves.
• The television is also an important prop as it creates the first interaction between the villain and the
victim, because of the fact that the puppet is in a different location but can see the main character
creates the sense of paranoia from the David as the unknown builds the tense atmosphere. The static of
the TV and the recording shows that the actions are planned, the organized attack means that the victim
was specifically chosen and the way in which he will be killed, this creates fear and adrenaline in the
audience as the question of whether David can escape is what the extract builds on. Similar to the TV the
timer on the bear trap builds tension as the victim is limited and the fact that the he knows what will
happen if he runs out of time creates anticipation from the viewer and compels them to keep watching
to see how it ends.

6. Actors Movements
• When David is being interrogated this movements clearly show he is traumatized and distant like he is
still remembering what has happened to him or what he has done, his hand gestures are shaky and
uncontrollable, the cigarette can be seen as a stress related item and a way of calming himself, this is a
contrast to his uncaring and confident movements before he was captured, this highlights that he is a
changed person which is what jigsaw wanted to do to him, the fact that he was ungrateful for his life he
is now glad to be alive as he has taken someone else's life.
• When David is in the bear trap, he is disorientated and frantic when trying to escape, he is constantly
turning his head and moving his hands, by doing this it shows the audience that he is unable to move and
trapped creating vulnerability in the character but also giving the villain the control over him. Once he is
standing up his movements are sluggish implying he is injured other than the device on his face, however
the countdown timer continues he speeds up his movements to show his desperation in trying to escape,
the hesitation before he kills the other person shows that he is unwilling but self-preservation makes
him. When the bear trap is removed is breathing becomes deeper and slower showing his relief at being
alive.
• The investigator is depicted as uncaring to David’s situation making the main character relatable as the
audience will empathies as everyone as felt ignored at some point. The investigators demeanor matches
his environment as cold and detached as well as methodical like a hospital as he only cares about the
facts and not opinion. In comparison to David and the Investigator the authorities movement s are much
more controlled and professional.
• Jigsaw’s movements are slow and controlled implying he has power of David, his calm demeanor shows
that he has planned what will happen creating apprehension from the audience towards his and sides
with David as they sympathize with is situation of being manipulated and trapped, when jigsaw turns or
move forward his movements are jerky showing that someone else is controlling him, this creates
tension as the villain is still unknown.

7. Sound
• Diegetic sound includes the timer on the bear trap, this repetitive sound shows that the victim is in
danger and is a constant noise which creates the tension from the audience. In the extract the
ticking speeds up the closer the bear trap is to activating, this builds adrenaline and tension from
the character and viewer.
• The scenes in the factory has most of the sound to make the character more disorientated and the
audience have small jumps from each noise occurring randomly, the lighting, Television and
scraping metal sounds have an echo effect to make the location seem empty and isolated for the
character, the fact that the majority of the sound is with in a short amount of time shows that the
scene will have the most action in them meaning the sound is synchronous to what is happening on
screen, as the chaotic noise reflects the characters emotional state of panic
• The hospital almost has no noise, the quietness means the character has no distractions and can
reflect on what has happened, however the lack of sound and emptiness of the scene means that
the flashbacks of the factory the sound seems harsher, is could be the character remembering the
trauma worse and to make the audience see the contrast between the two settings and go through
the same experiences of the main character, increasing the empathy and tension in the film.
• In the Hospital where David is
shown leaving work his
headphone music is the loudest
in the scene, this allows the
audience to experience what the
character is including his
obliviousness to his surrounding,
hence the attack on him is
unexpected to both David and
the audience as there is no
sound to indicate any violence.

8. Camera
• Close-up. The camera shot on David’s face shows his uncertainty about where he is from eye
movement and how slowly he is waking up. The shot only allows the audience see just below his
eyes, by hiding the bear trap on his face the audience become curious and empathetic towards his as
the he also doesn't know what his is wearing. In addition the close up shows the strap around his
head implying that he is trapped in to whatever situation the villain wants him in.
• Wide shot/ high angle- The wide shot establishes the change in location for the character, but also
how he is isolated in the empty room. The single spotlight implies that he is alone, however it
suggests that he is part of some scheme as the room is set up for him. The carnival theme of Jigsaw
implies that David is in the spotlight and performing or is the main attraction, either of these means
he is the focus of the killer actions. The high angle shows he is less powerful and at Jigsaws mercy
making himself vulnerable.
• Tracking/ pan. The camera movement in the hospital scene follows David to the elevator, later on in
the short film he is attacked by someone off camera, the tracking motion can suggests the villain
watching the victim, this heightens the idea of a planned attack
• Arc- David is at the centre of the movement with the camera rotating around him, this shows that
David will be the focus of the attack or torture. As the audience is only watching and not being part
of the shot like a point of view shot it gives the sense of helplessness to stop the attack but the 360
view shows he is alone with only darkness around him highlighting that no-one is going to help him.

9. Editing
• The editing of the film is slower in the scene of the hospital, this is due to the actors movements
of being dethatched from reality or aware of what is going on around him when being
questioned, therefore the editing reflects his dream like state.
• The fasted pace editing is when the main character is looking for the key to the bear trap, after
Jigsaw has given him information on how to escape which is a long shot due to it being a
conversation and allowing the audience process the instructions, the shots then switch rapidly
from his hands to the timer to show that he is running out of time and is a state of panic, the
faster pace creates adrenaline for the audience to relate to the disposition of the character.
• There is an editing montage of David's escape attempts, the overlapping shots and shaky camera
movements reflect David's frustration and frantic tries at removing the device, the failed
attempts creates tension about how he will escape.
• Special effects like the flash lighting were used to produce lightning, to build the tense
atmosphere, however pathetic fallacy was used to reflect David's bursts of energy to break free
from the bear trap, the blinding light implies that David can literally not see another way out
apart from doing what jigsaw has said, by doing this it produces a sense of hopelessness from
the audience and character.

10. Editing
• The editing of the film is slower in the scene of the hospital, this is due to the actors movements
of being dethatched from reality or aware of what is going on around him when being
questioned, therefore the editing reflects his dream like state.
• The fasted pace editing is when the main character is looking for the key to the bear trap, after
Jigsaw has given him information on how to escape which is a long shot due to it being a
conversation and allowing the audience process the instructions, the shots then switch rapidly
from his hands to the timer to show that he is running out of time and is a state of panic, the
faster pace creates adrenaline for the audience to relate to the disposition of the character.
• There is an editing montage of David's escape attempts, the overlapping shots and shaky camera
movements reflect David's frustration and frantic tries at removing the device, the failed
attempts creates tension about how he will escape.
• Special effects like the flash lighting were used to produce lightning, to build the tense
atmosphere, however pathetic fallacy was used to reflect David's bursts of energy to break free
from the bear trap, the blinding light implies that David can literally not see another way out
apart from doing what jigsaw has said, by doing this it produces a sense of hopelessness from
the audience and character.