This document provides a summary of the 2010 film Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese. It discusses the institutions involved in producing and distributing the film, including Phoenix Pictures and Paramount Pictures. The target audience is identified as young adults, due to its 15 rating. The genre is identified as thriller, with complex plotlines and riddles meant to engage viewers in solving the story. The main character is a detective portrayed as both clever and crazy, set on an isolated island housing patients.

1. Ben Land | Media Studies | July 13, 2016
MEIDA STUDIES SUMMER ASIGNEMENT

2. PAGE 1
Institutions:
 Shutter Island is directed by Martin Scorsese. He has directed films such as Casino,
Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.
 The producer of this film is Mike Medavoy and the company that paid for it is
Phoenix pictures. They have produced films such as Zodiac, Stealth and
Pathfinder.
 The company that distributed this film was Paramount pictures. They have
distributed films such as Hugo, The Avengers and Titanic 3-D.
 Shutter Island made $294.8 million.
Audience:
 The target audience for this film is young adults. The film is rated a 15. This does
not affect the target audience as they are therefore old enough to watch the film.
 The complex plot and violence will attract the target audience as they want to
solve the plot before the film does.
 Empire says “A possible problem with this is that, on one level, the film you think
you’re watching for the first hour or so might be more satisfying than the one
eventually delivered when all the answers are given – though Scorsese adds a tiny
final ambiguity that restores a littleof the magic.” I agree as the ending can be seen
to be a little anti-climactic but other than that in my opinion it is a good film.
Genre and Convention:
 The genre of this film is Thriller due to its complex storyline. Because of this the
audience expect riddles and clues that can be solved along the way in order to
keep them entertained. They are not disappointed with this film as there are many
riddles and possible conclusion the viewer works out before the actual ending.
 Other films that have the same conventions are Bourne Identity and Inception.
 This film is very typical of the genre as murder take place and a detective solves
them.
Representations:
 The main character is a detective who has to solve the murders. He is portrayed as
clever but also crazy.
 The film is set on an island in the middle of nowhere that houses patients.