Horror Opening Annotations

Saw 2 opening scene. I found this scene to relate well to the horror genre opening,

as it draws the viewer in by them wanting to know if the character gets out alive or not. Also, its a very basic opening, based on characters and the action. There is only one character, who has the full viewer;s attention. However, there is the puppet, Jigsaw who also has the viewer's attention as we want to know what horrid trick he has played this time.

The lighting used in this scene is dark and with a green tinge. The green tinge i feel gives the outcome of the opening a feel of science and laboratories. The lighting used will add to the dramatic effect of the out come and the action within the scene. Also it creates an idea of where abouts the man is based, as you do have a mid range shot of the whole room. Where you can see him sitting in the middle of the room on a chair surrounded by nothing

but what looks like metal walls, making it feel claustrophobic.

Right at the start when all you can see is a light flickering on and off, already sets the scene of horror, as stereotypically

people associate horror with lightening or flashing lights, as it adds tension to when the room is light and you can see

everything, where as when its dark you are relying on your sound and touch to tell you where things are around you.

The use of non diagetic music too also adds tension to the action, as its of a tension building tone, this makes the

audience a wear that something is going to happen. Once the sound of the man's heavy breathing is introduced, adding

even more tension to the drama, it makes the viewer know, without even seeing the character that something is

wrong and distressing with him.

The camera angles which are used are made so the audience feels they are the character in that situation. As

the angles are quick and sharp, adding to the feel of distress but they are also panning the room, giving the

viewer the whole feel of the setting. Even the way the camera is used over the characters shoulder to look into

the mirror, making the viewer feel like they are him. Giving a point of view shot, adding tension but also making

you feel for the character, before knowing why he's there but wanting him to get out safe. Showing his "good side"

of his face towards the light, make the audience wonder, 'why does he have a mirror?'. Then the next shot, from

a mid range to a far away shot, then zooming in towering over him, the audience can see the "Venus fly trap" round

his neck and also his eye. This camera shot also makes the character look small, showing that he now has no control

over whats going to happen to him. The different shots used within the next 5 seconds after the birds eye view shot

are of the character's face at different angles and different distances away, however, each time getting closer,

closing in, maybe linking the time he has to escape. Extreme close up here is very useful as it shows his fear, as it

zooms to his eyes and he's looking frantically round for a way to get out. Also the extreme close up of what the mask

is like inside, showing the sharp spikes, makes the audience want the character to get away as they don't want to

see that pain inflicted on anyone.

As soon as the T.V comes on, both the audience and the character know what's happening with the well known lines

"I want to play a game". This ups the atmosphere, with the audience wanting to know 1. what the character has done

to deserve this and 2. what he has to do in order to get out safely. The camera angles used, showing the characters

face are vital to the way that the audience will now feel about him. With every insult which Jigsaw is paying him, you

can see the hurt those words are having on him and his ego.

Once the video tape finishes, all of the sounds come together, this adds even more tension to the action in the scene.

The fuzzing of the t.v, him screaming at Jigsaw and the non diagetic sound becoming louder, also the flashing images

of the x-ray behind his eye flashing across the scene, making the atmosphere more intense. The camera shots here

i think are very effective as it disorientates the audience, making it uneasy for them as they can see how distressed

the character is, both by his expressions and the dialogue he is using.

Once he pulls the string so the timer starts to go, all the other sounds stop for 2 seconds allowing the ticking to

take over, again the tension is added, as now his time has started and the viewer wants to know if he has it in him

to get the key out. Camera looking down at the box, with a spot light on it, the audience giving it their full attention

makes them intrigued to know whats in the box. The music being used now is of a more upbeat tempo, but still with

the ticking of the clock behind it, this makes the music more intense as they audience can hear it and now that

time is running out. Once he's in the box and pulls out a scapulae, the flashed of his x-ray with the key behind his 

eye are again effective as it adds tension, while showing the fear in his face as he knows what he's got to do, using 

the mirror that first caught his attention. 

Showing all the different shots as he's a the mirror is really effective, as with the mid range shot, you can see his body 

language, how its stiff from fear, and his facial expressions, with trying to keep calm, knowing that this is going to hurt. 

Then jumping to a extreme close up of the scapulae nearly touching his eye with the high pitch music adds the tension

again. With him screaming makes the audience think that he's done it, but in actual fact he cant bring himself to do it. 

Him pacing around the room, with the camera panning him, adds tension, also making the action move faster as you

can see in his facial expression how much this is distressing him, making the audience want him to be okay. 

As the time continues to run out, the movement of the camera becomes quicker and zooming in and out to him, showing

more of his body language and facial expressions. The music becomes more high pitch, making the audience know that 

time is soon going to be up. Panning round him while doing flashed of his eye and the scapulae along with his face in the mirror

and his pain and frustration. The slow motion of him falling down mixed with the birds eye view of him screaming looking

up, makes it more intense and confusing for the audience. The flashes of the clock, makes the audience know that 

time is soon going to be up, with the audience wanting him to find a way out, but in the back of their minds they know

he's not going to make it. 

The build up with all the flashing images over lap, act as a tension build up to the end. The images of the clock, his face,

his eye and the scapulae, x-ray images and him trying to get the "fly trap" off from around his neck. The music also adds a lot

of tension on this part too, as his screaming has been placed over the top of the high pitch music and the ticking of the clock

making the whole image flash more dramatic. Then ending on the image of the clock, with time being up.