Analyzing Slasher Films
Saw VI (2009)
Stock settings; could possibly be a slaughter house or chamber, the textual evidence for this is the surrounding cadges, the weapons and the device that is fixed to the male and females head. The establishing shot at the beginning is used to show the setting, it shows the props on the table which are; a butchers knife, sharp knife and some rope, these items are usually associated with brutal murders, connoting that someone is possibly going to die, this links to the theme of death. The props are almost in a spotlight, this gives an illustration that they are a main part in the scene. It also shows the two characters trapped in cages and the low key lighting in the room, this could convey that both characters are going to compete with each other, this refers to the theme of life and death.
Stock characters; the male and female are the stock characters in the opening of this sequence, due to them being the main pinpoint, also jigsaw is a stock character due to him being the villain, this is seen through him being on a television screen rather than in person, also his identity is hidden under a mask and a costume, these are stereotypical features of a villain.
Themes; the themes of fear,pain and life and death are present as the close up camera shots of the females are used to show her facial expressions, these facial expressions connote fear as she has awoken in an unfamiliar setting.
Narrative; the idea that there are two victims (Simone and Eddie), and a villain (Jigsaw). Due to Saw VI being a sequel following the previous Saw films, as an audience we know that when Jigsaw states 'I wanna play a game', he doesn't just want to play one game he wants to play many and kill people who have done things wrong.
Iconography; it uses low key lighting which gives the audience an insight into what the sub-genre it will be and also giving the audience some information into the film. This can be seen through the props on the table that are in high key lighting as opposed to the characters in low key lighting, connoting that the weapons are a vital prop in this scene and possibly signifying life and death due to the contrasting tones.
Creation of enigma; when jigsaw appears on the television screen both characters are confused by his appearance, until he states; 'I wanna play a game', this is when the battle of life and death becomes serious as only one of the victims can survive. However when the battle is over, and we realise that Simone had cut off the most flesh, the opening scene ends and as the audience we do not get to see what occurs after this scene, this intrigues us as the audience to continue to watch the rest of the film.
Introduction to characters; as the camera moves from a low angle to a more central angle, we are introduced to a female on one side of the cage and a male on the other, this could give the connotations of strong vs weak. As the opening scene continues we see that Eddie is determined to win the battle as he cuts fat from his torso, whereas Simone is shaken by the fact that she does not have any torso fat, however the dominant ideology of women being weak is challenged by Simone as she cuts off her arm and wins the battle.
Setting up the plot; two victims awaken on either side of a room split by a caged-in scale; unfamiliar with their surroundings. Both wearing head harnesses with screws poised to pierce their temples. The one who sets more flesh weight upon their tray will survive. Eddie cuts fat from his torso, but Simone chops off her arm, and Eddie is killed when the timer expires.
Pace and rhythm/editing/mise en scene/camera shots; An extreme close up is used to show the nails screwing into their temples. Diegetic dialogue is also used at this point as the characters are screaming due to the intense pain of the device screwing into their temples. The male character uses diegetic dialogue and shouts ‘I’m not dying for you, bitch,’ this shows he is aggressive towards women. A mid shot is used to show the woman trying to delay cutting her arm off which reinforces the steeotype that women are weak, whereas the man has already cut two parts of his body off for the machine to help get the device off of his head, and win the battle of life and death. Stereotypically women are weak and vulnerable, and men are stereotypically strong and tough, the stereotypes are matched in this part of the scene. However this is challenged when towards the end of the scene before the timer runs out Simone cuts off her arm and wins the battle, challenging the stereotype that women are weak and vunerable. Rapid editing is used towards the end of the opening scene, this is done to speed up the scene and also to build tension. In terms of editing the woman has prevalence and she gets the final shot in the opening scene, usually the man is the most shown in a TV drama or a film, this is going against the stereotype of a weak woman and it is showing her as a powerful character.
Mood and tone (non diegetic music); pleonastic sound is used, dramatic music is a thriller convention which is used to build tension in the scene. Also a non - diegetic soundtrack is used to start building tension in the scene.
Stock settings; could possibly be a slaughter house or chamber, the textual evidence for this is the surrounding cadges, the weapons and the device that is fixed to the male and females head. The establishing shot at the beginning is used to show the setting, it shows the props on the table which are; a butchers knife, sharp knife and some rope, these items are usually associated with brutal murders, connoting that someone is possibly going to die, this links to the theme of death. The props are almost in a spotlight, this gives an illustration that they are a main part in the scene. It also shows the two characters trapped in cages and the low key lighting in the room, this could convey that both characters are going to compete with each other, this refers to the theme of life and death.
Stock characters; the male and female are the stock characters in the opening of this sequence, due to them being the main pinpoint, also jigsaw is a stock character due to him being the villain, this is seen through him being on a television screen rather than in person, also his identity is hidden under a mask and a costume, these are stereotypical features of a villain.
Themes; the themes of fear,pain and life and death are present as the close up camera shots of the females are used to show her facial expressions, these facial expressions connote fear as she has awoken in an unfamiliar setting.
Narrative; the idea that there are two victims (Simone and Eddie), and a villain (Jigsaw). Due to Saw VI being a sequel following the previous Saw films, as an audience we know that when Jigsaw states 'I wanna play a game', he doesn't just want to play one game he wants to play many and kill people who have done things wrong.
Iconography; it uses low key lighting which gives the audience an insight into what the sub-genre it will be and also giving the audience some information into the film. This can be seen through the props on the table that are in high key lighting as opposed to the characters in low key lighting, connoting that the weapons are a vital prop in this scene and possibly signifying life and death due to the contrasting tones.
Creation of enigma; when jigsaw appears on the television screen both characters are confused by his appearance, until he states; 'I wanna play a game', this is when the battle of life and death becomes serious as only one of the victims can survive. However when the battle is over, and we realise that Simone had cut off the most flesh, the opening scene ends and as the audience we do not get to see what occurs after this scene, this intrigues us as the audience to continue to watch the rest of the film.
Introduction to characters; as the camera moves from a low angle to a more central angle, we are introduced to a female on one side of the cage and a male on the other, this could give the connotations of strong vs weak. As the opening scene continues we see that Eddie is determined to win the battle as he cuts fat from his torso, whereas Simone is shaken by the fact that she does not have any torso fat, however the dominant ideology of women being weak is challenged by Simone as she cuts off her arm and wins the battle.
Setting up the plot; two victims awaken on either side of a room split by a caged-in scale; unfamiliar with their surroundings. Both wearing head harnesses with screws poised to pierce their temples. The one who sets more flesh weight upon their tray will survive. Eddie cuts fat from his torso, but Simone chops off her arm, and Eddie is killed when the timer expires.
Pace and rhythm/editing/mise en scene/camera shots; An extreme close up is used to show the nails screwing into their temples. Diegetic dialogue is also used at this point as the characters are screaming due to the intense pain of the device screwing into their temples. The male character uses diegetic dialogue and shouts ‘I’m not dying for you, bitch,’ this shows he is aggressive towards women. A mid shot is used to show the woman trying to delay cutting her arm off which reinforces the steeotype that women are weak, whereas the man has already cut two parts of his body off for the machine to help get the device off of his head, and win the battle of life and death. Stereotypically women are weak and vulnerable, and men are stereotypically strong and tough, the stereotypes are matched in this part of the scene. However this is challenged when towards the end of the scene before the timer runs out Simone cuts off her arm and wins the battle, challenging the stereotype that women are weak and vunerable. Rapid editing is used towards the end of the opening scene, this is done to speed up the scene and also to build tension. In terms of editing the woman has prevalence and she gets the final shot in the opening scene, usually the man is the most shown in a TV drama or a film, this is going against the stereotype of a weak woman and it is showing her as a powerful character.
Mood and tone (non diegetic music); pleonastic sound is used, dramatic music is a thriller convention which is used to build tension in the scene. Also a non - diegetic soundtrack is used to start building tension in the scene.
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