Analysis of the first 10 minutes of Shutter Island - featuring screenshots.

1. Shutter Island: deep
textual analysis

2. At the very beginning this long shot of the boat and sea is used. This long shot showing their location and size
of the boat is very typical of thriller films. In this particular extract, it shows how isolated they are and
consequently vulnerable. Therefore, the audience begin to already have preconceptions about where they are
going. The grey sky is also typical of a thriller as grey is a very mysterious colour, you can’t see anything and it
appears blurred therefore adding to the mystery: which is what a thriller is all about.
Camerawork – Long shot

3. This POV shot used is very typical of a thriller film. It enables you to see what the characters are seeing and
therefore we understand the scale and what exactly they're looking about and about to embark on. We see the
large heavy gates being opened and therefore we feel anxious as to why there is so much security and what
surprises could be lurking behind the gates.
Camerawork – POV shot

4. Red herring
Within the opening, Chuck and Teddy walk through the grounds and the tense incidental music builds up and the
camera focuses on this old lady featured in the picture. The pace seems to slow down and we focus on her as she
‘shh’s’ him and looks directly at him. Due to the mid shot (in which she is centred – implying importance) and slowed
down pace we as the audience believe there is some significance to her and believe she is important within the story.
However, we later discover she has to relevance or importance within the story. This red herring makes us question
and think hard, therefore becoming more focused and engaged on the film; something which thriller films aim to do.

5. Within this scene on the boat both Mise en Scene and red herrings are used. Mise en scene is a massive
part of the opening. From their clothing (overcoats, hats, ties, smart wear) we can tell they are detectives, and
are meant to be very professional – we also assume they’re experienced. Teddy also discuss’ briefly about
loosing his cigarettes (Chuck then gives him one of his own). Throughout the film there is a ‘thing’ to do
with cigarettes which implies they have some significance, but once again its just a red herring. However, this
scene features flashback of his wife and in between features shots of water. Then after we see him smoking.
This implies that what his just said about his wife dying in a fire is inaccurate, and therefore the audience
begin to doubt and question him. This whole element of mystery and secrets is very typical of a thriller.

6. This long shot is one of the first insights we have as to what the ward/institution looks like. By using a long shot we are
able to see the scale and also the surroundings. The colour of the ward is grey which implies a sadness and not a happy
environment. It also implies its old and not as straightforward as we expect the ward to be as its not just black or white.
This makes the audience worry as to what the detectives are arriving to as it looks very old and haunting and as if there is
something hidden within the massive walls. Locations like this fort are often used in thrillers as they connote mystery.
They are usually run down and provide the perfect location for escapes and dramatic scenes.

7. This shot was taken just after the detectives had to hand over their guns. This mid shot highlights how
they are no longer superior to the sheriffs, as they are all walking in a line and no one is in front of
each other. Guns are a key component of a thriller film and therefore when the audience seeing them
getting taken away from them within the first 10 minutes, they are concerned and feel their characters
are very vulnerable in the ward as it is full of mental patients.

8. This close up of the chains emphasizes the importance of them and foreshadows the story. The sounds
of chains are featured throughout the opening, as well as we see them on the patients. It emphasizes the
fact that they’re all trapped, the detectives and the patients – both mentally and physically. This can make
the audience weary and concerned about what the chains may later do, it may also make them feel uneasy
about the whole situation that the detectives are in.

9. Silence
During this mid shot silence is used. The captain has just spoken and said how
he doesn’t want to wait about and will be leaving after they get off. This is
followed by a brief moment of confusion and silence. This silences emphasizes
what has just been said and confused the audience as to why there is such an
urgency to leave. This makes the audience worry and become more emotionally
involved as they want to make sure Chuck and Teddy will be okay.

10. This close up of Teddy’s face is at the very beginning of the opening. He is being sick numerous times and
is trying to pull himself together. Through this close-up we see he isn’t feeling well at all, and isn’t enjoying
the boat ride due to what ‘appears’ to be travel sickness – however, we later discover otherwise. As an
audience, we worry about Teddy and whether he will be okay and his ill health makes us doubt and
question not only his experience, but also his reliability. Thriller films use close ups a lot to make us
understand how the character is feeling and make us feel a certain way about a person or towards a
situation.

11. Editing
Throughout the journey to the ward the editing is very slow. This allows the audience to take in the
environment and where they are going to. It also makes the audience very uneasy as the tense background
music throughout suggests something isn’t quite right and makes it all very uncomfortable. Thrillers often
use slow paced editing to allow you to understand where they are and make you feel a bit at ease as you don’t
expect anything to happen (however, it sometimes has the reverse effect). The also add tense music in the
background to build suspense and make you view a situation in a certain way and create a mysterious and
suspenseful atmosphere.