FK; Analysis of Saw V focusing on Film Language and Media Audiences

                                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfAjoJvxVPs             
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Saw V- (Hackl 2008)

Focusing on Film Language and Media Audiences

Film Language

• Mise-en-scene is essential in all of the Saw films as most, if not all, of the props connotate torture and death and this is key to the overall theme of the film. For example in this opening sequence the straps are examples of torture weapons. Makeup is also used to create gory scenes, for example the intestines in the picture above, which became the unique selling point of the film.The use of a clown as a representation of evil is interesting as clowns are usually a symbol of comedy and laughter yet Hackl chooses to make it sinister. Hackl uses lightening to create the establishing shot of the man bound to the table. This automatically allows the audience to see that it is a torture seen. This is reinforced by a birds eye view of the man laying on the torture device. The close ups of the mans legs, show that there is no escape while the close up of the man screaming is also shocking as the audience feel his pain. This heightens the tension as the audience are aware that there is no way out without significant pain.
• Sound is important in this opening sequence as it creates fear and mystery. The harsh and fast delivery of the man's lines, also the use of swearing show just how confused the man is. The constant use of heavy breathing shows the mans desperation to get out of this situation. Digetic sound, for example the chains clanking, reinforces verisimilitude.  The line “I want to play a game” becomes an aural motif for all of the films and is very important to the storyline.
• The dialogue of the clown is extremely important to the extract as the audience learn about both his and the other character through it. The line "This is the same helplessness that you bestowed upon others" shows that the bound character has a bad, cruel history.The line, "Some call this karma, I call it justice"  displays John's (the man behind the tortures) motives for the torture. The non-verbal language is also key to the plot as through this the audience sees the man struggle to get free, as well as his attempts to sacrifice his own hands in order to be freed.

MEDIA AUDIENCES

• The target audience of this film is the horror audience yet due to the 18 certificate this brings the audience to 18-24 year olds, mainly male. The director has chosen to exclude the younger horror audience as this permits him to include explicit scenes in his film. As the Saw films eventually became more known for the gore factor rather than the plot, Hackl soon attracted people who simply saw the film in order to say that they had.
• The Saw films have become quite controversial due to their content and a possible reading is that the director has gone too far in some of the scenes. A preferred reading, however, is that the film is "clever" as almost all of the traps are escapable and therefore the audience (alongside the characters) must find a way out.
• As a British teenager I feel that the film is more suited to myself, than an older audience. I believe the gore factor is deliberately put in for my age group and may put off older generations who usually prefer psychological horrors. I feel that my gender effects my reading of the film, as I think that males would like this film more than females, and this is reinforced by the stereotype that girls are more squeamish than boys. Personally I found some scenes disgusting and hard to watch yet Hackl uses this to get his audience into the cinema. I think that if you have a tolerance for blood and fore then the film would not be as effective as the film rarely makes the audience "jump" or fearful and instead just plays on the visual images.