Analysis of thriller film Shutter Island. In depth look into codes and conventions, characters, narrative and setting.

1. Shutter Island – Opening
(Set Up) Analysis
Ryan Gooderham

2. Analysis of Opening

3. Shutter Island - Setting
From the opening, we find out that Teddy Daniels (main
character) and his assistant are going to Shutter Island, to
investigate a missing prisoner. Once we are introduced to the
island, we find out that it’s a very creepy place, as we see the
prisoners everywhere and the mysterious lunatic block. We
know that we are going to the island through what the
characters say and we are shown the island in the range of
shots in the opening (quite a few high angle shots are used,
making the island seem very grand and spooky, and showing
the characters as very small and insignificant).

4. Shutter Island - Characters
From the set up, we find out a lot about the characters. We obviously don’t
find out everything about them, (as there is a lot to be discovered about
Teddy) but a lot is revealed to us. For example, Teddy in the opening is
shown to be very afraid of water. His water phobia is highlighted in the
opening scene and we later find out that this is because he killed his wife
by drowning her- hence the fear of water. We also find out that he lost his
wife, though from the opening all we know is that he thinks that she was
killed in a fire. Something else that seems odd about Teddy in the opening
is the fact that he looks in his pocket for his cigarettes, but can’t find them.
Later in the film it becomes clear, that he obviously wouldn’t have
cigarettes as a prisoner, but from the start we don’t see this. For another
example, we start to think that Teddy’s assistant, Chuck, may not be who
he says he is. This is because we are told that he is a police officer,
although he struggles to properly remove his gun from its holster. This
suggests to us that he is perhaps not who he says he is, as a police officer
should be able to do that fairly easily.

5. Shutter Island - Relationships
From the set up, we learn that although Teddy Daniels is
supposedly a trained police Marshall, he seems to slightly not
know what he’s doing. However, Chuck very clearly shows
that Teddy is in charge, as he calls him “Boss”, showing us that
Teddy is in a position of higher power. We also learn from the
set up that Teddy and Chuck are going to the island to assist
with the case of a missing prisoner. This is crucially important,
as, by the end of the film, we find out that Teddy is in fact the
‘missing prisoner’ and everything was faked to try and get him
to remember that he killed his wife. As said before, the fact
that he had a fear of water, and that Chuck couldn’t easily get
his gun out suggested to us from the start that something was
not wholly right with the situation.

6. Shutter Island - World
The ‘world’ of Shutter Island is presented in the opening as a
fairly secure, yet slightly dangerous place. This is because in
the opening, we are shown the heavy security protocols that
people have to go through to get in and out of the island. We
are also shown shots of the barbed wire lining the edge of the
confinement area, highlighting how secure the prison is.
However, the aura of danger is shown through the fact that a
prisoner has supposedly ‘escaped’, and this makes us think
that the island is not in fact as safe as we thought. Another
thing that unnerves us in the opening is the red herring, the
old woman who puts her finger up to her lips. Although she is
not important, we feel very spooked by her and this makes us
think that the island is very creepy and spooky.

7. Shutter Island - Conflicts
A key conflict in the opening that is key later in the film is
Teddy’s inner conflict. The conflict that he feels, being unsure
of the water and unnerved by the island comes through later
in the film when we find out more about him (i.e. we discover
that he is a prisoner and drowned his wife).
Another key event that we think to be important is the old
woman who puts her fingers to her lips. At this specific
moment in the opening, the sound goes silent, and our focus is
on this creepy old woman, telling Teddy to be quiet. This is a
red herring, but at this point we think that she is going to be
key to the narrative and is trying to suggest something (when
really she just recognises Teddy and is telling him not so say
anything).

8. How does the opening fit with the codes
and conventions of thriller films?
• High & Low angle shots – high shows movement and low creates a
dangerous, powerful feeling
• Mind games / mystery – woman puts her finger to her lips (red herring)
• Dull colours – gives a dull feeling
• Character type – COP – Marshall (Teddy)
• Deadlines – Captain says there is a storm coming
• Principle of concealment – main character is actually a criminal
• Silence – when woman puts her finger to her lips: builds tension
• Exaggerated sound – creaky gate and jangling handcuffs
• Extreme close-up – On grave-like sign, and marshall badge – highlight
their importance
• Deep music – when the island appears: builds tension
• Flashbacks – make the audience think
• Foreshadowing – emphasis on Teddy’s fear of water (after he drowned his
wife)
• Slow, non diegetic music – builds tension and heightens the mood

9. Analysis of the
opening
sequence
How does the opening use the codes and conventions of thriller
films?

10. Chiaroscuro – big
contrast between the dark
background and the light
text
Dark coloured
background – like low
key lighting – element of
mystery

11. Close up shot – we can clearly see
his face and also we can see out of
the window he’s looking through
Contrast again between light
and dark colours – really dark
around the edges but bright in
the centre

12. Colour manipulation – sky
and sea are very dull along
with the dull coats and dull
hats
Also at this point we are drip fed
plot building information (e.g.
Teddy can’t find his cigarettes and
is afraid of the water)
Deadlines – the captain says
that there is a storm coming
and they must leave before
the storm
We also see a flashback at
this point – to a point where
Teddy thinks about his wife

13. Pan in shot – creates the
feeling as though we are
going into the island
ourselves
High angle shot – we see
from above + the camera
tracks the car
Also at this point there is
some diegetic music to help
build the mood

14. Low angle shot – makes the
gates look very big and
menacing
Fairly dull colours used
again

15. Over the shoulder shot – we
can see both Chuck and
Teddy
Police & guards – typical
characters in Thriller films
Principle of concealment –
Teddy has no idea really
what the truth is (that he is
in fact a prisoner)

16. Close up shot – we clearly
see Chuck fumbling to get
the gun out of his pocket
Marshall – typical character
of thriller film as he is in the
police force

17. Contrasting colours – bright,
colourful flowers contrast
with the dull, dark clothing
worn by the prisoner
Making the audience work –
the audience really start to
wonder what’s going on at
this point

18. Red herring – this woman really isn’t
important to the plot at all, although we are
made to think this because this moment is
marked so clearly by the silence and slow pace
Silence – used very well here
to mark what appears to be a
key moment in the story

19. Making the audience work –
the audience really start to
wonder even more what’s
going on at this point
Principle of concealment –
Teddy has no idea who that
woman was or why she was
doing what she did