Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

• close up on Mildred as she lights the lighter and speaks
• causes fear in the spectator, as we are aware that the officer is in the building but Mildred is not
• long shot of the officer in the station as the fire burns behind him, showing how oblivious he is
• diabetic music playing as he reads the letter
• calming classical music playing, which juxtaposes the chaos occurring behind him
• lighting in the scene only comes from the fire outside, the rest of the scene is dark
• close up on Mildred throwing the last bottle, in slight slow motion. This suggests to the spectator that this one will cause more damage than the last 3.
• music now becomes non-diabetic, as his headphones are ripped out but it still plays, consisting the struggle of his escape
• close up on a burning file, but the spectator is unable to see what the file is until later in the scene
• switches from close ups of the officers face, to long shots of the fire, emphasising to the spectator how bad this situation is, and showing the fear and confusion on his face.
• the officer makes a huge effort to preserve the file, showing that it is clearly important, and also shows his change of heart and development into a better person
• long shots of the officer climbing out of the window and rolling around on the floor
• close up on the file, showing he saved Mildred's daughters file
• long shot of all the damage she's caused
• the camera pans up from the file on Mildred's face as she realises that she could potentially cause the officers death, showing to the regret on her face
• black shadow over the small guy and the officer as he tries to put him out

Saw *may contain minor spoilers*

Saw

When thinking of gory, torture porn films, most people turn to the saw franchise. With elaborate traps designed to maim and kill its victims in the most agonizing ways possible, and seemingly no end to the death toll. However 8 (going on 9) film prior to the 51total deaths in the franchise, Leigh Whannell, and James Wan came up with an idea for their first low budget horror film.

Saw takes place in a bathroom, following the story of two characters, Adam Stanheight and Dr. Lawrence Gordon and also the detectives attempting to solve a series of crimes, The Jigsaw Murders, which Adam and the Dr are now a part of. They are the victims of a serial killer known as Jigsaw, who tests (forces) his victims who have wasted their lives to prove that they have the survival instinct, a desire to live. Adam and Dr. Gordon must now prove they have the will to keep living and survive their trap, but also the will to kill the other to preserve themselves.

Saw one is a very low budget film, only having a $1.2 million budget, limiting their options. They made the best of this though, choosing to shoot saw in a single room. While the concept seems boring at first, several flashbacks show the events leading them to the room and the reasons that they are being tested.

Now I could go on all day about how ridiculous this opening is. Don't get me wrong, I love this film and its one of my all time favorites. However, there are certain parts of the plot that don't really make sense. For example, how long was Adam asleep? And how did he not drown? and if Dr. Gordon was awake long enough to have attempted shouting for help, and eventually giving up, then how is Adam not dead? All questions that are never answered, however after 8 films I've come to the conclusion that Jigsaw is Omnipotent and can predict everything that happens, which gives a lot of sense to many unanswered plot convenience points.
I find the opening scene (above) particularly powerful, the main reason being the camera angles. After Adam leaves the bath, the camera focuses on him and his reaction to this situation. With the lights off, Adam cannot see anything, not even when the Dr. starts talking to him, and the camera continues to focus on Adam. This gives the viewer a feel into the minds of the characters, as you are just as confused as they are, and find out major plot points just as they do, enabling you to feel their genuine reactions. Another scene I enjoy for the shot of the scene is the reveal of the room, specifically the body. This is our first look at the bathroom, a now iconic location in the franchise. They build the suspense, not fully showing the room, but instead showing the lights, followed by another shot of Adam adjusting to the surroundings before the horror of the center of the room becomes apparent. I personally like the spin of the camera from the top of the torso to the full body shot, it's fast-paced and really shows the insanity of the situation and how the characters must be feeling in this scene.



Another part I particularly enjoyed was the razor wires trap. The flashback scene shows the discovery of a man, tangled in razor wires. Dead. The detective team deduces the cause through a tape, detailing why the man was being punished and how he could escape. He had to walk through a room of razor wires within a limited time before he is locked in the room forever. For me, however, this scene is very powerful. The mental anguish is clearly shown in the speed of the scene, which is sped up. while the camera stays in one place, the screen itself is moving at a fast pace, coupled with the screaming and intense music, this makes for a very dramatic scene.

Overall, I really enjoyed this film. It's very immersive for a film set in one room, and even with a lot of plot flaws, the execution of the film itself is excellent.