Saw Trailer Analysis:

The trailer starts with a very old T.V on an old chair that looks pretty much broken. The location is in a rundown setting. There’s some sort of a clown, ventriloquist doll mask which distorts his features. The mask is a paradigm.  The idea that he is on a T.V In an isolated place, which could be anyone anywhere gives a sense that it could happen to anyone anywhere. Also the use of a point of view shot. The trailer in the beginning lacks in tone cards or preview card, it gets straight into it. There is no disenable equilibrium, we are already thrown into disequilibrium.

The camera then cuts to a couple of newspaper articles, which gives a narrative creates a background story. The non-diegetic sound “whoosh” creates a sense of unease. Finally a tone card has been introduced. “It’s his game” there is a colour connotation, which gives a sense of darkness. The words are slightly unfocused and disorientating. The smoke being used gives a sense that things are unclear, this links in with the unfocused writing. The font used looks slightly like a serious and traditional font. This suggests that maybe this is not a traditional horror film, as the font gives a sense of age and maturity, the font is intelligent, which cannot be linked with a slasher film.

The camera then cuts to a point of view shot through a camera lens, which gives a sort of voyeurism effect, as the character is being watched. The location is set in like a prison, with barred windows; also the balcony suggests that they’re high up, and isolated. Someone knows that they’re being watched, as the curtains moved.

The camera then cuts to a man in scruffy jeans and blue shirt; he looks like a middle class worker, in which anyone could identify with. The camera then cuts to a medium shot. He is not wearing any shoes which give a sense of exposure and vulnerability. He is in an isolated setting, all you can see is that they’re in a place where there are tiles and pipes its a little damp. It suggests that he is located in a place that is hidden away, as nothing looks like it has been take care of.

Camera cuts to a man in a black cloke, which slightly looks like the grim reaper, which gives the impression that he could possibly the villain. He is surrounded by smoke, which gives a sense of mystery as you cannot see through smoke. Also he is in a low key lighten location with cages which gives a sense of imprisonment.

There is a voice over which narrates parts of the film. This establishes the narrative of the story. We also learn more about the characters. The non –diegetic sound of a low rumbling creates a sense of unease. The camera then fades to black, which suggests a passage of time. This suggests that they have been there for a long time.  The colour black gives a sense that they’re plunged into darkness. The tone card “it’s your move” draws audience in, makes them identify with the characters, which then makes them an active audience instead of a passive audience.

The camera then cuts to a point of view shot, looking up which gives that almost in a hospital kind of effect, drifting in and out of consciousness. The camera then cuts to a point of view shot of a chain saw, which is a paradigm. The fact that the image of the chainsaw is slightly blurred and rigid, suggests that the character is in an unstable mental state, which shows a real sense of panic, sets up the narrative.

The camera cuts to a CCTV camera with yet again gives that sense of voyeurism. Also the man in wired cages gives the sense of physical imprisonment. The non diegetic sound of the clock links in with the spinning of the camera, which breaks the 180 degree rule, which makes it extremely voyeuristic. It also makes you feel sick and disorientated.

Camera cuts to a load of different character types which supports Propps theory of character types. The camera cuts to a blonde girl, which is the victim which could possibly be the final girl. She is leaning against a banister for support.

The camera cuts to a cellar door, which gives a sense of being trapped and imprisonment. It also suggests that it’s underground, in the darkness where horror happens. (Light = salvation). There is an acceleration of shot types which are very short, which raises questions (pleasure of the texts). There non diegetic sound of a sort of industrial noise links in with the use of the machines and tools e.g. saw. The trailer ends with the diegetic sound of the clown/ventriloquist doll laughing in a creepy sinister way.