Shutter Island
Film Poster
                                                          Large image of the
Instantly recognisable as a dark                          protagonist in low
thriller/horror – colours, weather,                       lighting - mysterious
image all fit audience
expectations.                                       ‘Someone is missing.’ Simple
                                                    tagline that doesn’t give much
        Convention of a                             away. Typical of psychological
        psychological thriller to                   thrillers to give up limited
        have a dark colour                          amounts of narrative and to
        scheme to go with the                       keep audiences guessing. As
        dark theme of the film.                     they cannot rely on the plot to
        Sets a sombre tone.                         draw in an audience, it is
                                                    important they make good use
                                                    of the posters visual
                                                    attraction.
  Rough sea and stormy
  weather creates a                                    Red, almost distorted,
  depressing atmosphere                                sketchy typography –
  and anticipates that                                 colour has connotations of
  something bad will                                   blood, signifying the thriller
  happen.                                              genre. The sketchy style
                                                       suggests that something is
     Image of island is made                           not quite right.
     up of a montage of
     smaller images, making                         Island is isolated and
     it disjointed. This                            cut off from the rest of
     suggests that on this                          the world - typical
     island, everything is                          location for a
     distorted and nothing is                       psychological thriller to
     as it seems.                                   take place, as
                                                    characters are trapped.
Creates a brand image
   with similar colours,
   setting, typography and
                                Magazine Cover     Shutter island theme takes
                                                   up entire cover. Its font is
                                                   used for all other features,
   same character used.                            and image fills whole cover.

 Protagonist looking down on
 slightly low angle shot and is                This cover hints more towards
 wearing a suit– power and                     the plot of the film than the
 status? However, his rugged,                  poster. We learn more about
 unkempt appearance                            the character, seeing his police
 contrasts with this.                          badge and gun (policeman is
                                               typical figure in a thriller) he
                                               appears to be the hero. The
   Repeated use of dark
                                               lighthouse in the background
   depressing colours,
                                               also seems key to the story.
   characters serious facial
                                               Cover gives away more, but not
   expression and eerie
                                               plot - audience want to see the
   weather conveys the
                                               film to find out.
   genre and also the tone of
   the film.
                                                 Use of red font throughout
Informal use of actor/directors                  suggests blood or death,
names ‘Leo’ and ‘Marty’ draws                    pointing towards the darker,
in audience – makes them seem                    horror elements to the film
more on their level.
                                             Taglines makes use of words
  Buzzwords such as ‘greatest’               ‘asylum’ and ‘madhouse’ which
  and ‘exclusive’ make magazine              confirms the psychological element
  seem worth buying.                         of the genre.
Trailer - Shot 1
Establishing
shot of island                                        Point of view
shows how cut                                         shot from
off and isolated                                      protagonist -
it is.                                                seeing things
                                                      from his
                                                      mindset.
                                                      Supposed to
                                                      empathise with
                                                      him?

            Dark, cloudy weather and low lighting -
            Makes it seem depressing and
            foreshadows the bad things that happen.
Trailer – Shot 2
                                       Accompanied
                                       by loud music,
                                       setting the
                                       audience on
A series of                            edge. Fear for
shots show the                         protagonists
island under                           safety.
strict security –
audience
realise how
dangerous the
patients are.                          Guards appear
                                       suspicious and
                                       wary of
                                       protagonist –
                                       reason to fear
                                       him too?
Trailer – Shot 3
                                                                  Reluctant
Close up                                                          to hand it
emphasises                                                        over -
the gun                                                           untrusting,
being                                                             afraid?
handed over


                                                                   Even a
                                                                   Federal
Gun represents                                                     Marshal
power, violence,                                                   must obey
authority/status                                                   the Island
etc.                                                               guards –
                                                                   powerful
                   Handing gun over to the guard, represents       and in
                   shift in power from Marshal to Island. Gives    control.
                   protagonist less authority.
Trailer - Shot 4
                                                        Close up of
Pale skin and                                           chained
blackened                                               woman with
eyes, making                                            slit across
her appears                                             throat - sets
ghostly - mental                                        audience on
illness - ghost                                         edge as it
of a person?                                            shows what
                                                        people on
                                                        the island
                                                        are capable
                                                        of.

    Manacled – dangerous,   Finger to lips – reference to some
    can’t be trusted        kind of secret. Trailer makes
                            audience want to know what.
Trailer – Shot 5
                                                  Smudged –
Close up                                          adds extra
snapshot of                                       emphasis
notepad with                                      and
the word ‘run’                                    eeriness to
smudged by                                        it.
rain




   Run – another hint towards     Builds up tension –
   some kind of dark (and now     moment audience realise
   seemingly dangerous) secret.   something is seriously
                                  wrong.
Over the shot
                     Trailer – Shot 6
shoulder –
almost as
though they                                               Two
are being                                                 characters
watched.                                                  are brightly
                                                          lit up -
                                                          contrast to
                                                          rest of
                                                          room



  Focus of shot is on the door – looks   Dark ad damp, flickering
  as though something is about to        lighting – eerie, builds
  come bursting out                      suspense. Typical
                                         thriller/horror scene.
Trailer – Shot 7

                                      Coincides
A disorientating                      with dialogue
aerial shot is                        “You’re a rat
used which                            in a maze” –
pans around in                        shot seems
a circle – shows                      to
uncertainty                           demonstrate
setting in.                           this.
Protagonist is in
                                         military SS uniform
                                         (shows violence,
                      Trailer - Shot 8   danger,
 These two shots                         unpredictability)
 follow one                                 Other character in
 another. Shows                          lab coat (shows
 the contrast                            intelligence, well
 between the two                         respected, high
 men.                                    status)
                                         Based on this, we
                                         should trust the man
Also, by this stage                      in the lab coat,
in the trailer, the                      however the trailer
shots are becoming                       has built it up so that
shorter and faster,                      we don’t. Audience
conveying the                            are as confused as
action, confusion                        protagonist and are
and desperation.                         unsure of who to
                                         believe – in similar
                                         situation and so
                                         empathise.
Trailer – Shot 9
  Almost in
  greyscale –                                                   He is also
  dark, bleak                                                   looking far
                                                                more rugged
                                                                and unkempt
                                                                than at the
Protagonist gone                                                beginning –
from wearing                                                    lots of
Marshal uniform                                                 action,
to wearing the                                                  situation
patients clothing                                               taking its toll.
– degraded by
island, power       Rats – symbolises phrase of ‘smelling a rat’ –
taken away, now     protagonist believing scientists on island are
one of them.        lying to him. Connotations of sneaky, deceit,
                    dirty, lowest of the low etc.
First shot – scar         Trailer – Shot 10                            Fire is a
across face                                                            recurring
makes character                                                        theme
look dangerous                                                         throughout
and evasive.                                                           the trailer,
Appears                                                                much of it in
deranged – not                                                         imagined
the type of                                                            scenarios –
person you want                                                        insight into
to see holding a                                                       subconscious
lit match – builds                                                     of
tension.                                                               protagonist?
                                                                       (set own
Fire connotates
                                                                       house alight)
anger,
devastation,         Second shot – mother and child standing next to blaze.
passion etc. –       Contrast of innocence/purity against raging, destructive fire.
all key themes       Looking directly into camera – feel for them. Hoping to be
in the film.         saved? Echoes later line ‘You should have saved us’
Genre Theory
•   Robert Warshaw – audience want film to be new and original, but still
    expect it to meet their expectations and to see the typical conventions
    of the genre. Shutter Island fulfils the conventions of a thriller, through
    Mise-en-scene including guns, police officers and fast paced action.
    However, it is also original as it is set in a different location and holds
    an unusual plot twist at the end.
•   Audience watch film as a form of escapism from their day to day life –
    thriller is far more exciting. Although nobody would particularly wish to
    be in the character’s situation, they enjoy watching something exciting
    unfold, and rise to the challenge of thinking and trying to make sense of
    the psychological element.
•   Lawrence Alloyway – A genre is defined through symbols; including
    character types, settings and props. Directors use these to
    communicate with an audience, and generally know how they will react.
    Martin Scorsese makes use of strong symbols to set the tone of the
    film. These symbols make the film appealing and meet the expectations
    of an audience going to see a psychological thriller.

Shutter Island - Poster, Magazine & Trailer

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Film Poster Large image of the Instantly recognisable as a dark protagonist in low thriller/horror – colours, weather, lighting - mysterious image all fit audience expectations. ‘Someone is missing.’ Simple tagline that doesn’t give much Convention of a away. Typical of psychological psychological thriller to thrillers to give up limited have a dark colour amounts of narrative and to scheme to go with the keep audiences guessing. As dark theme of the film. they cannot rely on the plot to Sets a sombre tone. draw in an audience, it is important they make good use of the posters visual attraction. Rough sea and stormy weather creates a Red, almost distorted, depressing atmosphere sketchy typography – and anticipates that colour has connotations of something bad will blood, signifying the thriller happen. genre. The sketchy style suggests that something is Image of island is made not quite right. up of a montage of smaller images, making Island is isolated and it disjointed. This cut off from the rest of suggests that on this the world - typical island, everything is location for a distorted and nothing is psychological thriller to as it seems. take place, as characters are trapped.
  • 3.
    Creates a brandimage with similar colours, setting, typography and Magazine Cover Shutter island theme takes up entire cover. Its font is used for all other features, same character used. and image fills whole cover. Protagonist looking down on slightly low angle shot and is This cover hints more towards wearing a suit– power and the plot of the film than the status? However, his rugged, poster. We learn more about unkempt appearance the character, seeing his police contrasts with this. badge and gun (policeman is typical figure in a thriller) he appears to be the hero. The Repeated use of dark lighthouse in the background depressing colours, also seems key to the story. characters serious facial Cover gives away more, but not expression and eerie plot - audience want to see the weather conveys the film to find out. genre and also the tone of the film. Use of red font throughout Informal use of actor/directors suggests blood or death, names ‘Leo’ and ‘Marty’ draws pointing towards the darker, in audience – makes them seem horror elements to the film more on their level. Taglines makes use of words Buzzwords such as ‘greatest’ ‘asylum’ and ‘madhouse’ which and ‘exclusive’ make magazine confirms the psychological element seem worth buying. of the genre.
  • 4.
    Trailer - Shot1 Establishing shot of island Point of view shows how cut shot from off and isolated protagonist - it is. seeing things from his mindset. Supposed to empathise with him? Dark, cloudy weather and low lighting - Makes it seem depressing and foreshadows the bad things that happen.
  • 5.
    Trailer – Shot2 Accompanied by loud music, setting the audience on A series of edge. Fear for shots show the protagonists island under safety. strict security – audience realise how dangerous the patients are. Guards appear suspicious and wary of protagonist – reason to fear him too?
  • 6.
    Trailer – Shot3 Reluctant Close up to hand it emphasises over - the gun untrusting, being afraid? handed over Even a Federal Gun represents Marshal power, violence, must obey authority/status the Island etc. guards – powerful Handing gun over to the guard, represents and in shift in power from Marshal to Island. Gives control. protagonist less authority.
  • 7.
    Trailer - Shot4 Close up of Pale skin and chained blackened woman with eyes, making slit across her appears throat - sets ghostly - mental audience on illness - ghost edge as it of a person? shows what people on the island are capable of. Manacled – dangerous, Finger to lips – reference to some can’t be trusted kind of secret. Trailer makes audience want to know what.
  • 8.
    Trailer – Shot5 Smudged – Close up adds extra snapshot of emphasis notepad with and the word ‘run’ eeriness to smudged by it. rain Run – another hint towards Builds up tension – some kind of dark (and now moment audience realise seemingly dangerous) secret. something is seriously wrong.
  • 9.
    Over the shot Trailer – Shot 6 shoulder – almost as though they Two are being characters watched. are brightly lit up - contrast to rest of room Focus of shot is on the door – looks Dark ad damp, flickering as though something is about to lighting – eerie, builds come bursting out suspense. Typical thriller/horror scene.
  • 10.
    Trailer – Shot7 Coincides A disorientating with dialogue aerial shot is “You’re a rat used which in a maze” – pans around in shot seems a circle – shows to uncertainty demonstrate setting in. this.
  • 11.
    Protagonist is in military SS uniform (shows violence, Trailer - Shot 8 danger, These two shots unpredictability) follow one Other character in another. Shows lab coat (shows the contrast intelligence, well between the two respected, high men. status) Based on this, we should trust the man Also, by this stage in the lab coat, in the trailer, the however the trailer shots are becoming has built it up so that shorter and faster, we don’t. Audience conveying the are as confused as action, confusion protagonist and are and desperation. unsure of who to believe – in similar situation and so empathise.
  • 12.
    Trailer – Shot9 Almost in greyscale – He is also dark, bleak looking far more rugged and unkempt than at the Protagonist gone beginning – from wearing lots of Marshal uniform action, to wearing the situation patients clothing taking its toll. – degraded by island, power Rats – symbolises phrase of ‘smelling a rat’ – taken away, now protagonist believing scientists on island are one of them. lying to him. Connotations of sneaky, deceit, dirty, lowest of the low etc.
  • 13.
    First shot –scar Trailer – Shot 10 Fire is a across face recurring makes character theme look dangerous throughout and evasive. the trailer, Appears much of it in deranged – not imagined the type of scenarios – person you want insight into to see holding a subconscious lit match – builds of tension. protagonist? (set own Fire connotates house alight) anger, devastation, Second shot – mother and child standing next to blaze. passion etc. – Contrast of innocence/purity against raging, destructive fire. all key themes Looking directly into camera – feel for them. Hoping to be in the film. saved? Echoes later line ‘You should have saved us’
  • 14.
    Genre Theory • Robert Warshaw – audience want film to be new and original, but still expect it to meet their expectations and to see the typical conventions of the genre. Shutter Island fulfils the conventions of a thriller, through Mise-en-scene including guns, police officers and fast paced action. However, it is also original as it is set in a different location and holds an unusual plot twist at the end. • Audience watch film as a form of escapism from their day to day life – thriller is far more exciting. Although nobody would particularly wish to be in the character’s situation, they enjoy watching something exciting unfold, and rise to the challenge of thinking and trying to make sense of the psychological element. • Lawrence Alloyway – A genre is defined through symbols; including character types, settings and props. Directors use these to communicate with an audience, and generally know how they will react. Martin Scorsese makes use of strong symbols to set the tone of the film. These symbols make the film appealing and meet the expectations of an audience going to see a psychological thriller.