Pig mask

The pig mask is a thematic prop worn by characters throughout the "Saw" film series. In the series, the fictional serial killer Jigsaw and his apprentices use it to conceal their identities while abducting their "test subjects". As the series continues, the purpose of the pig mask is explored in detail; explained to be a tribute to the "Year of the Pig", the year in which Jigsaw started his work.

In the films

Origin

The origin of the pig mask was shown in "Saw IV", revealing the first known pig masks to have been latex strap-on masks used at a Year of the Pig Chinese New Year festival. John Kramer, the Jigsaw Killer, had snatched them and donned one, while using the other one to hold his chloroform-soaked rag. The second mask was then used to knock out John's first test subject, Cecil, by placing the mask over his head with the chloroform rag still inside.

Appearances

The pig mask was first seen in "Saw", in which someone, cloaked in a red robe and wearing the mask, crept out of the back of a car and attacked Dr. Lawrence Gordon in a parkade. It was then seen when Adam Faulkner was attacked and rendered unconscious in his own apartment by someone wearing the mask with a red suit. When investigating one of Jigsaw's lairs, detectives David Tapp and Steven Sing uncovered the pig mask from beneath a red sheet, together with the Billy puppet commonly used by Jigsaw.

The pig mask was seen again in "Saw II", worn by Amanda Young, Jigsaw's first apprentice, who sat, wearing a black cloak and the mask, in a bathtub waiting for Detective Eric Matthews, who was then attacked and injected with a syringe that knocked him out.

In "Saw III", the pig mask was used by one of Jigsaw's apprentices when kidnapping Detective Allison Kerry, as well as Dr. Lynn Denlon, Jeff Reinhart, and Jeff's daughter Corbett. Several other pig masks were seen sitting next to the first in Jigsaw's lair. It was also revealed that it was Amanda Young who had kidnapped Adam Faulkner in the first movie.

In "Saw IV", the pig mask was seen behind Forensic Hoffman, appearing as if someone was about to kidnap him from behind. In his home, Rigg came across his first test, in which a woman named Brenda was strapped to a device and cloaked in a red cape with the pig mask over her face. The mask and cloak were attached to a wire with a trigger-pin, and when they were pulled off, the trigger-pin was pulled, activating the device Brenda was chained to. [http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-PIG-MASK-WORN-BY-THE-HAIR-TRAP-WOMAN-IN-SAW-4_W0QQitemZ260179802249QQihZ016QQcategoryZ60360QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Brenda's pig mask with trigger-tab] ] For his second test, Rigg was ordered to wear the mask to conceal his identity while pulling Ivan Landsness into a motel room to be tested. It was revealed at the end of the movie that Detective Hoffman was in fact another one of Jigsaw's accomplices, and had donned the mask to kidnap some of the victims. A flashback also showed Jigsaw kidnapping Cecil using two Chinese New Year festival pig masks, using one to conceal his own identity while using the second, hiding a chloroform rag, to put over Cecil's face.

According to the "New York Post", Director Darren Lynn Bousman's white dog, Chance, plays the "hotel mutt who licks one of Jigsaw's freaky pig masks". [Isaac Guzman, "Behind the Blood Spurt - Getting to Know the Sickos Responsible for 'Saw IV,'" "New York Post," January 20, 2008.]

Concept, creation and impact

When working on the original "Saw" film, writer Leigh Whannel and director James Wan wanted their antagonist Jigsaw to have some sort of mask. After some discussion, the idea of Jigsaw wearing a rotting pig's head was chosen to symbolize his pessimistic view of the world and the disease that he was "rotting" from.

Nevertheless, the mask given to them from production (a rubber halloween mask) was considered by them to be less than satisfactory. A number of things were added to make it look more gruesome, including long black hair and pus running from its eyes and nostrils. Leigh Whannell has still admitted to being disappointed with its final appearance compared to his intended one, but has admitted that the mask has since become one of the "staples" of the "Saw" franchise.

Along with Billy and perhaps Jigsaw himself, the mask has since become one of the more iconic symbols of the franchise. It has appeared on both the posters for the first film [http://ca.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-12105/Saw.html Saw poster with pig mask] ] and the fourth. [http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Saw-IV-Posters_i2729458_.htm Saw IV poster] ] The mask has also been featured on many forms of merchandise. Officially licensed pig-mask replicas have been sold for Halloween. In addition, the mask has been featured on numerous Jigsaw action figures. NECA has released two Jigsaw figurines with the pig mask; the original was Jigsaw wearing the mask in his black cloak, and a "Saw III variant" of Jigsaw wearing it in his red cloak. [ [http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/6293 Bloody-Disgusting.com] ] [ [http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_102306a.htm Captain Toy review] ] In addition, the Be@rBrick line has released a "bear" version of Jigsaw wearing the pig mask. [http://www.hypebeast.com/2007/05/berbrick-series-14/ BerBrick series] ] Sideshow Collectibles has also released a figurine of Jigsaw wearing his infamous pig mask in the "Real Action Hero" line. [http://action-figure.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=22193 Real Action Hero line] ]

References