Textual Analysis of 'Saw 2'

Textual analysis of Saw 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIhQ5IrxSPc

 

This opening scene works really well to create tension due to all of the jump cuts and fast paced transitions between the clock ticking and the characters reactions. Therefore, we think that if we have some sort of flashback this will cause our protagonist to panic and we will have fast paced cuts between a flashback and his reactions. Also, we like the grimy, underground setting, so we think that we will use a location with similarities to this.

Genre:

Saw 2 is a Torture Porn hybrid connoting that it is related to a horror. This is proved through the use of typical conventions including: blood, masks, weapons, torture device, unfamiliar objects and chains. The use of the blood connotes the themes of death and pain as well as representing the message of this plot. Also, it effects the audience into feeling anxious and awkward about what they are viewing.

 

Narrative:

This scene follows Propp’s theory of character types as it clearly includes a villain-Jigsaw who is represented as vicious and evil and he seems to have a conflict with other characters. This is portrayed through the life vs death binary opposite and connotes his anger and mad personality. Furthermore, a damsel in distress/princess is used but through an anti-stereotype of a male-Michael. This is connoted in the way that he is the victim. However, this genre is different because often there is very few heroes and the Evil usually win to conflict stereotypical movies.

Todorov’s theory of ‘Five States’ seems to apply. This connoted by a defined Equilibrium, which is the victim being trapped. This helps to connote the theme of torture and set the scene. The disruption is connoted as the villain introduces the death mask connoting a problem and the word death represents the content of the play addressing the audience of what may happen. We recognise the disruption when we find out that the key is in his eye and how the victim needs to retrieve it to survive. This follows the theory as it connotes the difficulty of surviving in this situation and the target demographic have to anticipate the binary opposites of life vs death. Additionally, the audience notice his attempt to repair when Michael tries to cut the key out in order to fix the problem. However, again linking to this genre he fails. Lastly, an anti-stereotypical resolution or new equilibrium takes place simultaneously as he dies. This Five States theory helps to connote the difficulty of this task and represent the psychopathic villain.

 

Sound:

This extract used a lot of non-diegetic sound to build tension. This is shown through the conventional string instruments throughout the scene, building up during the countdown to connote how death is getting closer emphasising limited time. It could also connote the eerie mood and create sharp sounds to connote the mischievous and secret event. Another example is the use of the industralised steam to connote the setting and the steam could represent blindness and cowardice.  

Furthermore, diegetic sound was used to represent end of life. This was portrayed through the screams to connote pain, suffering and panicking as the victim reaches his death. This sound partly builds up the crescendo to connect to the horror conventions of a climax and the horrible terror of this issue /message.

Diegetic sound is used to represent power. For example, the fact that Jigsaw’s character is presented with a low voice connotes his authority and forcefullness. An allegory for this ambiguous voice could also connote his strange mental state and follow the stereotypical idea of a ruthless, mad character.

 

Editing:

Editing is used to create anticipation. This is shown through the fast paced cuts during the countdown, between his expressions and a clock. This connotes how long he has left to live and represents the villain’s power as he seems to control whether they die and has a key influence upon how. The pace also helps to build the tension and anticipation as the audience want to know whether he will survive.

 

Audience:

From this extract, the target audience seems to be around a young adult demographic due to the clear strong use of violence and gore. This could be linked to many audience theories. Firstly, the uses and gratification theory in the way that the scenes will cause social interaction as similar audience segmented people are more likely to watch similar movies and talk about the film, possibly persuading others to watch it. Secondly, it could be connected to the 2 Step Flow theory as equally the actor playing Jigsaw or Michael could have a large influence upon whether the audiences decide to watch it, but the audience themselves could persuade others to watch it.

Mise-en-scene:

Setting- The low-key lighting connotes the secrecy of the location and the dark mood to represent the fear of the characters as well as the audiences. The industralised grimy setting allows the dark lighting to connote that it is underground and hard to find.

Positioning- The positioning is used to represent importance. This is shown through how the victim is positioned in the middle of the shots which connotes that he is an important character throughout this scene and offers a conclusion that something may happen to him.  

Expressions- Michael’s character is represented as anxious and petrified. This is shown through his facial expressions from the constant close-ups after he finds out about the key being in his eye. His wide open eyes connotes that he has learnt something tragic and that he is worried about cutting it out of his eye. Therefore, he is represented as weak and far from brave because he has little choices.  His dropped jaw and crying connotes his innocence and his fear.

 

Props- Jigsaw is presented with a mask to represent his mischievous personality. This is seen when the victim watches the TV. The mask connotes his desire to hide his face as well as creating an eerie mood and uneasy atmosphere as audiences often loathe masks and not knowing who is behind it.

Costume- Finally, Michael’s costume connotes his inferiority. This is connoted from the point that he is only wearing boxers. This ambiguous choice of costume connotes how his rights have been stripped and how he was easy to access for Jigsaw, again representing his power. The little clothing could also connote how Michael is easy to access and has a lack of protection linking to the theme of violence.

 

Shots:

Conventionally, the shots are used to make the audience feel guilty. This is portrayed from the point of view shots at the beginning which connotes that he has just woke up and forces the targeted demographic to feel like witnesses, which helps to question the audiences emotions and limits.

Many shots are used to represent authority. The use of the low angle shots directed at the victim connotes that he is the target and how he is trapped in the chair. This angle allows the audience to feel dominant representing his weakness and hope for survival.

 

Ideology:

A clear opinion is shown here through Jigsaw’s character. A dominant opinion seems to be that Jigsaw believes that everyone should appreciate life and death. To do this he appears to believe that near-death situations are key into making many better people. Jigsaw’s belief is normal but the fact that he delivers certain acts in order to follow this is shocking, as the audience would feel amazed that someone could commit these limits and cause death.

These conventions will actually appeal to our primary target audience of 15 to a young adult demographic because this has similar age ranges within the use of the horror conventions and we though that the music worked really effectively with the fast paced shots to create tension, so we have decided that we intend to stick to this as we desire a similar atmosphere but in a less violent way. Secondly we may include violence in our piece to link to male audiences expectations and the stereotypes they are associated with, however we subvert against this convention by lowering the intensity levels and by keeping it brief and as short as possible to connote a flicker of a flashback. Finally, we were intrigued with the use of the location so at the moment we think that we will base ours in a toilet-like facility to connote the emptiness within society and the lack of facilities for our protagonist to live in. Also, it will help to represent the fear people live with because most of them hide in remote locations.