Shutter Island

Shutter Island Opening Analysis

1)   The set up reveals that the setting is a place called Shutter Island which is a prison for the most dangerous criminally insane. It is revealed by Teddy and his partner what the place is and then the prison guards go into more detail later on, the block on the top of the hill is shown to be more dangerous and creates an ominous and creepy atmosphere looking over the rest of the prison.

2)   The set up doesn’t reveal a lot about the main character Teddy. The audience are left asking many questions after only the first few minutes of being introduced to his character, this is a common convention of thriller films as it makes the audience want to carry on watching and find out more. One of the techniques used to create a mysterious persona about Teddy is the use of the flashback, a common convention, this hooks the audience in.

3)   There’s quite a cold relationship at the start between Teddy and his partner, and the prison guards. It’s clear the prison guards want to show how they have authority over them, they do this by taking their guns. Teddy and his partner are seen to be establishing a relationship as they have only just met, it seems a lot like Teddy’s partner looks up to him and maybe isn’t as strong as a character. Also Teddy and the convicts in the prison, it is clear they have some sort of relationship as one of them seems to recognise him by waving at him and another tells him to ‘shh’. The goals of Teddy, his partner and also the prison guards is to find the escaped prisoner, I feel this will be important later on as this is what the whole plot will be based around.

4)   The atmosphere created of the ‘world’ Teddy and his partner have just entered seems very dangerous and negative, this is shown to the audience by the music used when they arrive on the island, it’s very tense. Also the establishing shot of the island shows it to be a dark, gloomy and creepy place. The audience knows it’s a dangerous place as they are told it is a prison for the most dangerously criminally insane and also they are there about an escaped convict.

5)   It seems there may be some conflict to come later on between Teddy and his partner, and the prison guards because they are in charge and it’s evident the other two do not like having their authority taken away from them.

6)   This film fits in with the codes and conventions of thriller films by using enigma codes to create a mystery about Teddy and keep the audience interested. It also uses tense and eerie music which builds up to help create a tense atmosphere.