Shutter Island – Opening (Set Up) AnalysisRyan Gooderham

Analysis of Opening

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).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

Analysis of the opening sequence

How does the opening use the codes and conventions of thriller films?

Chiaroscuro – big contrast between the dark background and

the light text

Dark coloured background – like low key lighting – element

of mystery

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

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

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

Low angle shot – makes the gates look very big

and menacing Fairly dull colours used again

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)

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

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

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

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