Editing is used effectively throughout the Saw 4 trailer to create the conventions of a typical horror genre trailer. Title screens of text are used as an editing technique to create cuts from scene to scene creating continuity editing to make sure the trailer ‘tells a story’ and creates fear for the audience. This title screen then disappears using the ‘fade out’ editing technique, then fading out to a video clip. Fast paced editing is also used throughout the saw 4 trailer, this is used to show the action pieces of the film, the fast paced editing technique adds continuity to the editing and speeds the trailer up. Fast paced editing is also typical of the horror genre as the fast flashing screen creates fear and interest to its target audience.
Camera work is used effectivly throughout the Saw 4 trailer to create a sence of fear and suspence typical of a horror trailer. An over the shoulder shot is used over one of the main characters shoulders to show a dark room with the curtains blowing in the background. The over the shoulder shot is used to establish the characters point of view and show the dark and distressing scenery typical of a horror film. A close up shot is also used on the dead body of ‘John Cramer’ also known as jigsaw. This close up shot shows jigsaw is dead, by zooming into his expressionless face. Medium shots are also used throughout the clip to show snippets of ‘torture’ traps, conventional to horror films. The medium shot allows mise-en-scene such as chains and machines to be shown along with the fear and expression on the characters faces, this shows a sence of fear and distress, conventional of a horror film.
Mise-en-scene is used in the Saw 4 trailer to portray a sense of fear, typical of the conventions used in a horror film. Prop is used in the trailer to create a motif of fear throughout the ‘saw’ franchise. The ‘saw’ puppet is seen as a motif in this trailer as a symbol of death and torture, the puppet appears slowly as the end of the trailer, playing on the fears and emotion of the viewers as clowns and puppets are often a sign of fear. Mise-en-scene is also used effectively throughout the trailer through the use of makeup. Makeup is used heavily throughout the trailer, mainly in the fast paced torture scenes showing blood and smudged makeup down the victims face showing a sense of desperation and fear. Makeup is also used of the close up of jigsaw, showing red stitching wounds through his head-symbolizing trauma. Jigsaw is also made to look pale and thin due to the use of contouring makeup techniques, making him look dead. Scenes and setting are also used effectively through the use of mise-en-scene. The scenes in the trailer all have low-key lighting making the setting seem grim and highlighting a sense of fear and suspense to the audience. The camera angle also focuses on the scene of an open window with the curtains blowing, this is often used as a prop to symbolize something sinister is about to happen, or someone is about to be kidnapped. Therefore the use of mise-en-scene is an important aspect in creating the typical conventions of a horror film.
Sound is used in the Saw 4 trailer to create a sense of fear and suspense. A voice over is used in the trailer of ‘Jigsaw’s’ voice, the voice over reads out the title editing saying ‘ You thought it was over’ ‘You thought you were safe’ this voice over creates a sense of fear to the audience. The voice over also uses the word ‘ you’ which is personally addressing the audience, further creating a sense of fear. Non diegetic sound is also used in the saw 4 trailer firstly starting with a slow creepy music adding to the suspense of the trailer. The music then gets faster to match the fast paced editing of the clip and add tension and suspense. Ambient sound is also used in the extract with screams, crying and the slamming of doors being heard, these noises are typical conventions of the horror film genre.
