Textual analysis of Shutter Island" film.

1. Shutter Island

2. “Shutter Island” storyline
The implausible escape of a brilliant murderess brings U.S.
Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner
(Mark Ruffalo) to Ashecliffe Hospital, a fortress-like insane
asylum located on a remote, windswept island. The woman
appears to have vanished from a locked room, and there are
hints of terrible deeds committed within the hospital walls. As
the investigation deepens, Teddy realizes he will have to confront
his own dark fears if he hopes to make it off the island alive.

3. Why I chose this film
I chose to focus on this film opening in particular as I believe the plot of the film and the
mixture of genres is very similar to our film opening and so would be useful and
interesting to watch and study in great detail. This film uses a range of camera shots to
entice the audience and maintains their attention especially in the opening sequence. I
think the use of camera shots to effectively play with either audiences emotions is a
crucial factor when filming, and is why one of the reasons I have chosen this film to
research. “Shutter Island” has a mixture of genres between a thriller and a drama. This
links to the genre of our film being a teen thriller. However, our film also has psychological
features which make the genre of our film a psychological teen thriller. This film has
scenes and of psychological disturbance ad distress of character which I thought would
link to the behaviour and characteristics of the main character in our film opening
(Charles) who is mentally unstable, much like the murderess who has escaped from her
hospital on “Shutter Island”.
I was intrigued by the setting and variety of camera shots used throughout the montage
sequence in the opening title sequence.

4. The synopsis of the film is “In 1954, a U.S. marshal investigates the disappearance of a
murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane”. The idea of a
psychiatric ward/hospital link directly to our idea of the escaping of the main
character from his psychiatric ward. I was also interested by the past setting of the film
and how it was set in the 50’s because much like the villain in our film, the flashbacks
to his life in the hospital was set in around the same time.
Much like the murderess that has escaped from the psychiatric hospital for the
criminally insane, our mentally unstable main character has the ability to conflict acts
of violence either mentally or physically, much like the character in “Shutter Island”.
Similarly to our opening sequence, “Shutter Island” includes flash backs to World War
II. Although it is a different location and thought to flash back to, the concept and
technique used is the same.
The escaping of the woman in the film links to our film. Not only does it signify what
the female robbers failed to do, but it could also signify how the man failed to escape
his disturbing and obsessive thoughts.
The prison setting in the film is also similar to our film. We plan to make both the
psychiatric ward and his house a prison like environment. He also feels a prisoner of
his own mind, somewhere he cant ever escape from.

5. Camera shots:
Black fade in of a dark, abandoned corridor creating
suspense and therefore immediately establishing the
genre of the film. An extreme long shot is used in this
image. It gives us a sense of perspective. The shadows
at the end of the corridor could signify the secrecy
throughout the film and how people are unable to see
what's in front of them until its too late.
Use of 360 degree pan to confuse and disorientate the
audience. This also gives a sense of perspective allowing
the audience to feel they are in the film. A high angle
shot is used to give a sense of empowerment and
control to the audience. However, this is contrasted by
the movement and fast pace of the camera which
makes the audience feel as if they are loosing control,
falling from a great height.
The only colour on the screen is the red text showing
the actors names. Red has connotations of blood
suggesting to the audience that this film is a thriller
genre with possibly scenes of violence.

6. Here a point of view shot is used. This enables
the audience to feel more connected and
involved in the scene. An extreme long shot has
been used which establishes the setting for the
audience. The security guards and metal gates
could signify that the setting of the film I in a
protected environment, for example a prison, to
ensure no one escapes.
A close up is used to show someone's foot
gripping a gun laying on the floor. Again the
identity of the person has remained a secret to
the audience to maintain their attention. The use
of the gun as a prop signifies to the audiences
that scenes of violence may be included in this
film. This allows the audience to establish the
genre of the film.
A long shot is used to establish their surroundings
and setting. This appears to be se in a prison cell.
It appears dark and cold. This could signify to the
audience that criminal activity will take place in
this film. Also by the emptiness of the prison cell
the audience may assume an escape of some kind
has taken place, this creating the plot/storyline of
the film.

7. Dull and gloomy low-key lighting is used throughout the opening sequence. This is until
a spark of high-key lighting is displayed when a man lights a match. This captures the
audiences attention and entices them to watch on. This sudden strike of a match
displays a sense of danger, this establishing a running theme throughout the film.
Colour and lighting
Colour is kept minimal in order to build suspense due to
the surroundings being obstructed with how dark it is.
This also distorts the viewers vision, creating anxiety and
panic.
However, high-key lighting is then used when outside.
This could signify a different characters perspective. This
lighting creates a more optimistic and upbeat feel to the
image and gives the audience a false sense of security.
A point of view shot has been used. This allows the
audience to feel more involved in the film and slows
the audience to see what I happening in more detail
from the perspective of the character. The identity of
the person has still remains a mystery to the
audience. This creates curiosity for the audiences
and encourages them to watch on.

8. EditingFade transitions are used to maintain
continuity when moving from scene/location
to the next. This creates a smooth and
effective transition which is unnoticeable,
continuity editing. At the beginning the text
flickered, creating suspense and tension for
the audience. These types of transitions slow
the pace of the film down and reduce the
feel of panic.
At the end of the opening title credits the
name of the film “Shutter Island” is
presented in red with a different, more bold
and dominant font allowing the audience to
realise that its was the end of the
credits/titles. The writing moved towards the
audience, a technique used to catch the
audiences attention. Also used to smoothly
transition from one scene to the next with
effective continuity.

9. Setting
Shutter Island was mainly filmed in Massachusetts at Medfield State Hospital, with Taunton
being the location for the World War II flashback scenes. Old industrial buildings in Taunton's
Whittenton Mills Complex replicated the Dachau concentration camp. The old Medfield State
Hospital in Medfield, Massachusetts was another key location.
The location of the film is established by the use of an extreme long shot of an
island. The island appears abandoned, dark and lonely. However, another camera
shot used was of a prison cell. This could mean the prison is surrounded by water
to ensure no one escapes. Much like the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary which was
surrounded by water to ensure no one escaped alive.

10. Before we have seen any acting displayed we hear a very subtle but intriguing piece of orchestral music
being played whilst the main credits are being displayed on screen. This is non-diegetic sound plays from the
very beginning of the sequence. It captures the audiences attention by the mellow slow tempo and high
pitched tone to it. It sets the atmosphere for what we, as an audience are about to see. I like the idea of
having an eerie and mysterious sound being played in the background and will consider this feature when
making the opening sequence to our film. The non-diegetic sound is the only musical sound used in the
opening sequence. Many types of soundtracks like this are used to gin a thriller film as it has a haunting, up-
tempo feel to it. However, in this opening they have used music that captures the audiences curiosity instead
of scaring them. Parallel sound is used as the sound matches the action on screen. This usually reflects the
emotion displayed on screen. In this case mystery is portrayed as no facial expression or body language can
be seen.
Sound
The sound gets louder and more tense when a close ups shot is shown of a hand moving what
appears to be a stack of papers (which could be of great significance to the film) The identity of
the person has remained unknown and a mystery to the audience. This creates curiosity for the
audiences and encourages them to watch on.

11. Conclusion
To conclude the setting used in the opening sequence establishes the genre of the film for
the audience. The genre is both Thriller, Drama and features of Psychological instability (the
same as our film opening). The dark shadows and empty locations create a sinister and
depressing feel to the film. The block buildings on the abandoned island shows a prison like
environment with prison cells in an unescapable location. This then allows the audience to
establish the plot/storyline of the film being something to do with criminal activity and
punishment of some sort. The characters in the opening sequence remain a mystery to the
audience. This could be to entice the audience and encourage them to watch further than
the opening sequence as questions have been bought up and curiosity has been created.
The parallel sound is not always used in thriller films. A lot of the time contrapuntal
/incongruous music used contrast with the film or movie clip it has been inserted into. Its
sound that does not fit in with the events happening. We could use this within our thriller
as I think it would create confusion and disorientate the audience into thinking something
else, we could use the music to create a twist. However, I think in tis clip the music fit well
with the action played on screen. Each image shown in the clip is relatively long allowing
the audience to view what is happening in detail, without panic of anxiousness.