Hello Zepp
Encyclopedia
"Hello Zepp" is the original name of a piece of incidental music
that was composed by Charlie Clouser
for the first installment in the Saw film series
. The piece's appearance in the first film was timed to bring a dramatic tone to the end of the film, in which the primary antagonist
, named Zep Hindle, is revealed to actually be a victim of the real antagonist, the Jigsaw Killer
. (The character's name in the script is spelled 'Zep', whereas the music titles are spelled 'Zepp'). As the series continued, the piece was reused in all the films, often being renamed and remixed to accommodate the changing situations and characters in each film. The song is now the theme of the entire series.
and the 2006 movie Deja Vu. It was also featured in the 2008 film Yes Man
, credited from Twisted Pictures
as "Charles Clouser".
It is also the title screen and credit music for Saw II: Flesh and Blood videogame for PS3 and Xbox 360.
Brazilian gymnast Daniele Hypolito
uses the music since 2010 in competitions.
It was also used during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on ABC as the introduction to each game.
Incidental music
Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program, video game, film or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack"....
that was composed by Charlie Clouser
Charlie Clouser
Charles Alexander "Charlie" Clouser is an American musician whose activities include playing keyboard, synth, theremin, and drums. He is known for his abilities in music programming, engineering, mixing, and remixing. He was a member of the band Nine Inch Nails 1994–2000. Before he was in Nine...
for the first installment in the Saw film series
Saw (film series)
Saw is a horror franchise distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment and produced by Twisted Pictures that consists of seven films and two video games, published by Konami. The franchise began with the 2003 short film which was created by Australian director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell...
. The piece's appearance in the first film was timed to bring a dramatic tone to the end of the film, in which the primary antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
, named Zep Hindle, is revealed to actually be a victim of the real antagonist, the Jigsaw Killer
Jigsaw Killer
John Kramer is a fictional character and the central character of the Saw franchise. Jigsaw made his debut as the primary antagonist in the first film of the series, Saw, and he's later portrayed as an antihero in Saw II, III, IV, V, VI and 3D...
. (The character's name in the script is spelled 'Zep', whereas the music titles are spelled 'Zepp'). As the series continued, the piece was reused in all the films, often being renamed and remixed to accommodate the changing situations and characters in each film. The song is now the theme of the entire series.
Usage
- Saw (2003 film)Saw (2003 film)"Saw " is a nine-and-a-half-minute Australian short subject horror film released in 2003. It was directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, who also starred in it. It was originally used to pitch their script for a full-length feature film Saw to various studios and actors. The...
The theme appears only at the end of the short, and is played during the end credits of Saw, titled "Zepp Overture".
- SawSaw (film)Saw is a 2004 American independent horror film directed by James Wan. The screenplay, written by Leigh Whannell, is based on a story by Wan and Whannell. The film stars Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Whannell and Tobin Bell...
- The tune appears five times in Saw. The first plays during the reveal that Detective Tapp has been spying on Dr. Gordon's apartment. The second plays during a flashback as Tapp watches a Billy tape. (Because the first two pieces have not been officially released, the names of the two tracks are not known) The third, titled "X Marks the Spot," and plays during a conversation between Adam and Dr. Gordon. The fourth and most well-known version appears at the end of the film, when the identity of the Jigsaw KillerJigsaw KillerJohn Kramer is a fictional character and the central character of the Saw franchise. Jigsaw made his debut as the primary antagonist in the first film of the series, Saw, and he's later portrayed as an antihero in Saw II, III, IV, V, VI and 3D...
was finally revealed to be John Kramer, the cancer patient, rather than Zep Hindle, who was participating in the abduction of Dr. Gordon's family as a part of his own test, beginning when Adam Stanheight began to play Zep's tape, of which the first words were "Hello, Mr. Hindle. Or as they called you around the hospital: Zep." The fifth is the theme "Zepp Overture", which also appeared at the end of the short film.
- Saw IISaw IISaw II is a 2005 Canadian-American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and co-written by Bousman and the first film's co-writer Leigh Whannell. It is a sequel to 2004's Saw and the second installment in the seven-part Saw film series...
- When Darren Lynn BousmanDarren Lynn BousmanDarren Lynn Bousman is an American film director and screenwriter.-Personal life:Bousman was born in Overland Park, Kansas, the son of Nancy and Lynn Bousman. He is a graduate of the Film School at Full Sail University. He attended high school at Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park,...
was signed on to direct Saw II, Leigh WhannellLeigh WhannellLeigh Whannell is an Australian screenwriter, producer, and actor, best known for his work on the Saw franchise.-Life and career:...
, the original screenwriter for Saw who played Adam Faulkner, rewrote Bousman's original script, and included another major plot twist that Bousman and Wan decided "Hello Zepp" should be applied to. The tune appears three times in Saw II. The first remix is played when Amanda YoungAmanda YoungAmanda Young is a fictional character in the Saw film series. She is portrayed by Shawnee Smith. At first a minor character in the original film, her role expanded in the sequels until she became one of the most important characters in the series, being the only character besides Jigsaw himself to...
reveals she has been tested by Jigsaw before and is titled "Played." The second plays when Xavier cornered Amanda YoungAmanda YoungAmanda Young is a fictional character in the Saw film series. She is portrayed by Shawnee Smith. At first a minor character in the original film, her role expanded in the sequels until she became one of the most important characters in the series, being the only character besides Jigsaw himself to...
and Daniel Matthews in the bathroom from the original movie, and began to cut the back of his neck off for part of the combination to the safe upstairs, and is titled "Cut Necks". For the film, only the ending was used while the original "Hello Zepp" was remixed for the scene. The final remix appears at the end of the film; titled "Hello, Eric," it played when Amanda revealed to Eric MatthewsEric Matthews (Saw)Eric Matthews is a fictional character from the Saw franchise, who first appeared in a fake documentary entitled, Full Disclosure Report: Piecing Together Jigsaw, featured on the Uncut Edition of the original film. He is the main protagonist of Saw II and a supporting character in both Saw III and...
that she had become Jigsaw's apprentice.
- Saw IIISaw IIISaw III is a 2006 Canadian-American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman from a screenplay by Leigh Whannell and story by James Wan and Whannell. Wan and Whannell directed and wrote Saw and Bousman wrote and directed Saw II. It is the third film in the seven-part Saw film series and stars...
- In Saw III, it plays seven times. The first occurrence is titled "Amanda" and plays when she arrives at Jigsaw's new lair and wheels Dr. Lynn Denlon in to meet a cancer-strickened Jigsaw. The second is titled "It's Begun" and appears when Amanda tells Jigsaw that Jeff has broken out of the box. The third is titled "Be Surprised" and plays during a flashback of Jigsaw setting up Amanda's Jaw Trap. The fourth occurrence, titled "Prep" is a loose mix and plays just prior to Jigsaw's surgery. The second remix plays over a flashback sequence, which sheds more light on the design of the bathroom trap from the first film. The tune was named "Shithole" after a line in the original film and was later rearranged as "The Shithole Theme". The sixth occurrence of the track is titled "Your Test" and is a remix of the "Hello Eric" theme, playing as Jigsaw explains his test design to Amanda. The final is at the very end of the film, and plays over the tape that Jigsaw has prepared for Jeff Reinhart. This remix is titled "Final Test". At almost two minutes, "Final Test" is the shortest ending version of "Hello Zepp" seen in the films.
- Saw IVSaw IVSaw IV is a 2007 Canadian-American horror film and midquel to 2006's Saw III. It was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by newcomers Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan and Thomas Fenton. The film was released in North America on October 26, 2007...
- In Saw IV, it is played eight times. The first, titled "Just Begun," which was when Hoffman plays the wax tape found during Jigsaw's autopsy. The second tune occurs 2 times (3 in the Director's Cut) during the film, titled "Help Them". It plays first when Eric Matthews remembers how he survived his confrontation with Amanda after escaping the bathroom, second when Jill has her miscarriage, and last when Strahm confronts Jill with various pictures (after an inserted deleted scene uses the preceding musical track). The next occurrence plays while Strahm and Perez investigate Ivan's trap (and later Rex and Morgan's), titled "Step Back" and "New Game." The third mix, titled "Lesson," plays while John follows and abducts Cecil for his track. The final version plays during the twist finale. Titled "Let Go", it plays to a tape Art played for Rigg, telling him he failed his test.
- Saw VSaw VSaw V is a 2008 Canadian-American horror film directed by David Hackl and written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan and stars Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor and Scott Patterson...
- In Saw V, it plays four times. The first is a combination of "X Marks the Spot" from Saw and "Lesson" from Saw IV, which plays during a scene in which Jigsaw and Hoffman set up the House Trap from Saw II. The second plays over Jill Tuck and Agent Erickson's scene. This variation of the theme has not been released. The third, simply titled "Zepp Five", occurs when Strahm is trapped in the compactor room, and is very similar to "Let Go" from Saw IV. The first half of the song is more foreboding, implying the impending doom of Strahm. The second half becomes more action-oriented, beginning with a rising theme (similar to the one heard in "Final Test") and culminating in a brass ensemble (similar to the one heard in Saw IV) played intensely alongside a screeching string instrument as Strahm is crushed to death. The remix is two and half minutes long. The final version plays during the credits, and is one of the unused "Just Begun" mixes.
- Saw VISaw VISaw VI is a 2009 horror film directed by Kevin Greutert from a screenplay written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. It is the sixth installment of the seven–part Saw film series and stars Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Mark Rolston, Peter Outerbridge, and Shawnee Smith...
- In Saw VI, it plays four times. The first is a remix of "Step Back" and "New Game". Entitled "Jill Drives," it plays when Jill Tuck drives to the hospital. The second is played on a piano accompanied by a chorus and plays when Hoffman discovers the note written to Amanda in Saw III and the subsequent flashbacks. The third, titled "Zepp Six," is the longest ending variation of the "Hello Zepp" theme (over six minutes long) and split into two halves. The first half (beginning similarly to a low-pitched "Hello Eric" and heavily featuring William's Theme) begins during William's final test and as Jill sets up Hoffman's test and ending as William is killed. The second half begins as plays as Hoffman tries to escape from the Reverse-Beartrap. This version is heavily action oriented (using the Double BassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
portions of "Your Test"/"Shithole" and the rising brass theme from "Hello Eric", "Your Test" and "Let Go") before the brass ensemble from "Let Go" reappears, playing heavily and more dramatically before pausing at the last shot of Hoffman screaming.
- Saw 3D - In Saw 3D, it plays eight times. The first is a distorted piano version, played when Dr. Gordon is crawling through a hallway. The second, a remix of "Step Back (from Saw IV)," plays during Jill's interrogation by Gibson. The third plays when Bobby Dagen reveals his fake scars to the Jigsaw survivors. The fourth is a remix of "New Game (from Saw IV)" and plays when the police investigate the aftermath of the Garage Trap. The fifth briefly plays during the autograph flashback scene. The fifth is a remix of "Zepp Six" with a section from "Let Go," playing when Hoffman places the original Reverse Beartrap on Jill. The sixth, another remix of "Zepp Six," plays when Dr. Gordon is revealed to have been a Jigsaw accomplice. The final mix is a remix of "Zepp Five" with a choir and plays during the final scene between Dr. Gordon and Hoffman, with a partial remix of the ending of "Zepp Six".
Outside the Saw films
Additionally, Hello Zepp appears at the end of the trailer for the movie The Box, as well as the trailers for the 2008 movie ValkyrieValkyrie (film)
Valkyrie is a 2008 American historical thriller film set in Nazi Germany during World War II. The film depicts the 20 July plot in 1944 by German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to use the Operation Valkyrie national emergency plan to take control of the country...
and the 2006 movie Deja Vu. It was also featured in the 2008 film Yes Man
Yes Man (film)
Yes Man is a 2008 comedy film directed by Peyton Reed, written by Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel and starring Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Rhys Darby, Maile Flanagan, Danny Masterson, and Terence Stamp...
, credited from Twisted Pictures
Twisted Pictures
Twisted Pictures is an independent production company, mainly creating films of the horror genre. The company was founded in 2004 by Evolution Entertainment's Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Gregg Hoffman...
as "Charles Clouser".
It is also the title screen and credit music for Saw II: Flesh and Blood videogame for PS3 and Xbox 360.
Brazilian gymnast Daniele Hypolito
Daniele Hypolito
Daniele Matias Hypólito is a Brazilian gymnast who competed in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. Hypólito was the first athlete from Brazil ever to win a medal at the World Championships, a silver on floor exercise in 2001...
uses the music since 2010 in competitions.
It was also used during the 2011 NBA Playoffs on ABC as the introduction to each game.
Films
In the film series, there are currently thirty-one versions or mixes of "Hello Zepp".- Saw (2003): "Zepp Overture"
- Saw: "X Marks the Spot", "Hello Zepp", "Zepp Overture"
- Saw II: "I've Played Before"/"Played", "Cut Necks", "Conscious", "Hello, Eric"
- Saw III: "Amanda", "Surprised", "Shithole", "Your Test", "Final Test"
- Saw IV: "Just Begun", "Just Begun (Alt.)", "Just Begun (Alt. 1)", "Just Begun (Alt. 2)", "Help Them", "Help Them (Alt.)", "New Game (Alt.), "Step Back (Alt.)","Lesson", "Let Go"
- Saw V: "Saw V Title", "Zepp Five"
- Saw VI: "Jill Drives (Mix 1)", "Jill Drives (Mix 2)", "Severed Hand (Mix 1)", "Severed Hand (Mix 2)", "Zepp Six", "Zepp Six (Alt.)"
- Saw 3D: "Cauterize", "Only You", "Support Group", "Junkyard", "Autographs", "Dr. Gordon Montage", "The Final Zepp"
Soundtracks
Five versions or mixes of "Hello Zepp" have been released so far on various Saw soundtracks.- Saw: "Hello Zepp", "Zepp Overture"
- Saw II: "Don't Forget the Rules"
- Saw III: "The Shithole Theme" (Rearranged & renamed), "Final Test" (Renamed on Soundtrack as The Final Test)
- Saw 3D: "Dr. Gordon Montage" "The Final Zepp"