How Shutter Island uses narrative theory and fits with the thriller narrative conventions

1. Shutter Island
In what ways does this film use,
develop and /or challenge narrative
theory

2. What do you remember?
General Narrative Theory Specific Narrative features of Thrillers
• You will be working in the following groups
today:
Daisy Ben Ryan Nicole
George Lewis Declan Christina
Danny Shannon Mark Jacob
Chris Aidan Hazel

3. What do you remember?
General Narrative Theory Specific Narrative features of Thrillers
Todorov Plot twists and t urns – complex, makes
Three Act Structure audience work
Beginning/Middle/End Flashbacks – dark past
Happy Endings Narrative retardation
Set Up Red herrings
Catalyst Chases / pursuits
Central Question Mysterious characters (shady past /
Enigma Code (Barthes) duplicitous / unsure of intentions / keep
Levi Strauss audience guessing)
Binary Oppositions Deadlines (bomb timer, ransom
demands…)
Character Types????? Morally complex characters (more grey
areas)
Enigma codes
Cliff hangers
Misdirection
Multiple lines of action

4. The Opening of Shutter Island
• Watch this opening carefully looking for key
narrative features
• In your groups apply general narrative theory
and specific narrative conventions of Thriller –
in what ways is Shutter Island using general
narrative theories, developing them,
challenging them
• How typical ‘Thriller’ is it?

5. The Set Up
• What does the set up reveal to the audience about setting? Where
is this place? What gives you information?
• What does the set up reveal to the audience about characters?
Choose one character and explain HOW the set up reveals this
information.
• What does the set up reveal to the audience about interrelationship
between characters? About their goals? Are there any things you
learn here that become important later on?
• What is this ‘world’ like? Safe? Happy? Dangerous? How do you
know?
• What possible conflicts or strains are there that will become part of
the story later on?
• How does this film opening fit with the codes and conventions of
Thriller films?

6. Extension/ Homework Task
• Take 10 screen grabs from the film and
annotate these to explain how they fit the
technical conventions of Thriller films – esp
Camerawork and Mise en scene
• Copy of the opening is in the ‘Student
Resources’ drive on the Macs.