The document analyzes the trailer for the film Shutter Island. It identifies the genre as psychological thriller/horror based on words and scenes used. The trailer targets a male audience aged 17-37 through the actors. It lasts 2 minutes 23 seconds and uses approximately 105 shots with fades, blacks, and flickers as transitions. Diegetic and non-diegetic sound inform the story. Relationships are shown through character interactions. The trailer establishes an unsettling mood and reveals an investigation at a mental asylum without giving away the full plot. It effectively uses close-ups and medium shots to market the film through intrigue and engagement.

1. Shutter island trailer review
What is the genre of the film?
The films genre is a psychological
thriller/ horror

2. How is the audience able to identify the genre of
the film?
The genre of the film is established by words used in the trailer: “mental
hospital” “criminally insane” “its like their scared of something”. It also shows
the genre by the scenes it choses to use, below are some examples.
Something he Suggests
needs to watch someone
out for he loved
died in a
fire
Possibly the
same
person? These screenshots suggest
all is not as it seems and
theres some form of
mystery in the film.

3. How does the trailer target an
audience?
• The trailer targets an audience through the use of actors, either by
appealing to fans of Leonardo Dicaprio or reflecting the audience through
the actors age and gender.
These shots show that
while the gender and age
is varied it mostly revolves
around males in their late
twenty's suggesting a
target audience that is
mostly male between the
ages of 17-37

4. How long does the trailer last?
The trailer lasts for 2 minutes 23 seconds
How many shots are used?
Approximately 105 shots are used throughout the
trailer
What transitions are used?
The trailer uses fade outs black outs and
whiteouts to cut between scenes it also uses a flicker to
cut but this effect was too fast for me to take evidence of.

5. How is diegetic and non diegetic sound
used?
Diegetic sound and non diegetic used to inform the
audience of the story via diegetic dialogue and non
diegetic dialogue that is edited to overlap scenes
This mans
“All I know is it’s a speech is
mental hospital” diegetic and this
this mans speech medium shot
is non diegetic shows him as he
and overlaps the speaks to the
two scenes other

6. Representation of characters
relationships/ friendships?
Friendships and characters relationships are shown through their interactions
with one another.
They both appear
to be quite relaxed
and their open
body language They both look to each other for support while
suggests they the others have arms folded or in pockets
know each other suggesting none of these characters are
quite well comfortable around each other, by surrounding
the two inspectors it appears the islands guards
hold more power and are of a higher status on
The gun here is the island, the way the two are blocked off by
symbolic of the the man who has his back to the camera
inspectors suggests he is n charge
handing over
power to the
guards

7. What does the trailer reveal about the plot?
The trailer reveals there is a mental asylum someone has been sent to, to investigate a
disappearance , as the trailer progresses and the cuts speed up we gain a sense of
unease and that there is some form of conspiracy on the island.
How does the trailer establish mood and
expectations? It establishes a disturbing mood and “horror” expectation
by focusing on the gruesome inmates.

8. What type of camera shots and angles
are used most commonly?
Screenshots of extreme close up’s, close up’s, medium shot’s, long shot’s, and
extreme long shot’s are used throughout the trailer with close up’s and
medium shots being the most commonly used.

9. How is mise-en-scene constructed?
Mise-en-scene is constructed through the use of establishing shots, the inmates
outfits/straight jackets and the guards uniform. This informs us of their roles throughout
the film and of their importance. We also can roughly guess what age they are by the way
they dress, e.g. the inmate who is missing is wearing quite an out fashioned suit suggesting
she is in her late forties/fifties.
Shows an establishing
shot of the institution
Shows the island
Shows roles of the characters. Left is the The women here is dressed all in
security guard and the two on the right are white suggesting she is a nurse
inspectors, this can be seen because they fit who looks after patients in the
the stereotypical appearance.
institute

10. Why do the film studio use the trailer
to market its product?
The film studio uses the trailer to market its product because it
intrigues the audience and informs them,. As a result this draws
them in and engages them without giving away the entire plot.
How successful is the trailer in targeting an
audience? The trailer is very effective in targeting an
audience, it targets a wide range of audience members because
of the diversity of the film. It features a whodunit mystery while
also showing conventions of a horror and psychological film with
some aspects of action and thriller. Because it broadcasts all of
these points it appeals to a much wider range of audience.

11. Make a list of ten codes and
conventions you have identified
• the film revolves around one main character
• There is some form of conflict
• Trailer reveals some story but not all of it.
• The trailer shows clips throughout the entire story.
• The main character has to overcome some kind of obstacle.
• The story is mostly based around his interactions with others.
• Its meant to raise questions for the viewer.
• Intertitles are used to advertise actors and the company.
• Music is used to add suspense
• Music and cuts synchronise to add a more fluid effect of transition

12. How effective are film trailers as a
promotional device for films?
They are very effective as they form the first most used
form of film advertising and are capable of capturing
the audiences interest in ways that a conventional
poster or website cant, they also inform in the fastest
possible way and there are more ways of advertising a
trailer such as television, internet and cinema.