Saw Trailer Analysis

When looking at this trailers structure, the first scene shown is out of context and does little in exposition, but serves to set the tone for the rest of the trailer with low key lighting and a blue filter used to create an eerie atmosphere and an over-the –shoulder shot putting the audience in the place of the character. After this brief scene, the trailer then goes on to show the production companies’ logos, usually done at the beginning of a trailer.

The next segment gives us a little more insight into the story, by showing us two of the main characters as well as the villain, jigsaw. Voice overs are heard from jigsaw throughout most of the trailer, which is effective because while he doesn’t say much, the deep effect on his voice tells the audience enough they need to know about him, by signifying that this is a character shrouded in mystery. A very effective quick barrage of edits, showing newspaper clippings, also gives the audience an idea of what this character is about without giving too much away.

At about the middle point of the trailer, the music picks up in tempo and begins to increase in intensity, a common convention of horror trailers. At this point the trailer edits between scenes and various texts describing jigsaw, the words ‘killer’, ‘voyeur’, and ‘psychopath’ are all shown in between scenes from the film with more expository dialogue about the killer over the scenes. Also, it should be noted that the edits between the scenes in the film and the text are not simple cuts but fades to black, again emphasising the eerie atmosphere.

Something worth mentioning at this point is the consistent use of colour filters (mostly green) used throughout the trailer at this point, similar to the blue filter at the beginning, adding to the scary atmosphere. Also in the scene scenes shown with the filter is the low lighting, working in conjunction with the filters to create an eerie atmosphere, again, similar to the beginning of the trailer.

At about 1:30 into the trailer, the music greatly intensifies, increases in tempo and volume. The edits also become a lot faster between scenes from the film and text. The first text shown in this last part of the trailer is ‘this falls’, indicating to the audience when the film will be released. The scenes from the film being shown are also seemingly far more dramatic moments than before, coinciding with the increasingly dramatic music. Finally, at the music’s climax, the title is shown as well as one last voice over from jigsaw reinforcing the premise. While he doesn’t ask a rhetorical question, his last voice over has the same effect, saying “live or die, make your choice” which again, isn’t a rhetorical question, but it still leaves the same effects, leaving the audience with a choice.