Shutter Island Trailer Kirsty Salisbury

1. Analysis of ‘Shutter Island’ Trailer
Kirsty Salisbury

2. Camera Work
 Close ups of Teddy and prisoners faces – shows the
scared emotions which makes a reaction to the audience,
as they will feel the tension.
 Long shots and a mix of high and low angles of the
missing woman’s room – shows the viewer there was
literally no way she could have escaped, intriguing the
audience.
 Long shot with a low angle when the inspectors walk
through a large, empty hall – shows how isolated they are.
 End of the trailer, Teddy is walking slowly through a cage
corridor – man jumps on him, changes the angles of the
scene with jump cuts – scares the viewer before the end,
makes them eager to see it.

3. Editing
 Shot reverse shot at beginning of Teddy’s face looking at
Shutter Island – looks anxious, shows that there is something
not quite right about the place.
 Zoom into the gate as it opens – makes the audience feel like
they’re entering, they’re now part of Shutter Island.
 Slow motion when handing gun over – interprets that it’ a bad
idea.
 Flash cut of woman with blood on her face – doesn’t focus,
she’s missing, making viewers feel nervous.
 Jump cuts of action at the end – builds tension to the viewer,
makes them feel exhilarated and will remember the film, making
them want to see it.

4. Mise-en-scene
 Woman saying ‘sh’ has chains connected to her
wrists – connotes that she’s dangerous.
 Her bloodshot eyes may scare the viewer – lets
them in on what’s coming.
 Blood and cuts on the prisoners’ shows violence
and danger – prisoners been mistreated, puts a
little gore and scare to the audience.
 Two inspectors dress smartly, looks like they’re of
higher rank in the force.

5. Sound
 Dialogue at beginning – ‘all I know it’s a mental
hospital,’ gives viewer insight of the film – reels them
in.
 Scream – pain of patients. Scream over the dialogue
of ‘these are all violent defenders right?’ – questions
what Shutter Island really is.
 Build up of tense music when camera looks over the
word ‘Run’ in the book that the woman hands to
Teddy. The music drops connoting danger.
 Scream over the man jumping on Teddy – shocks
the viewer.

6. Text on screen
 ‘Leonardo DiCaprio’ famous actor – reels the
audience in because of the recognisable name.
 At the end of the action jump cuts, the film title
appears straight after – makes the audience
remember the title because it’s at the end which is
one of the last things they’ll see.