SHUTTER ISLAND OPENING ANALYSIS

Shutter Island is Psychological Thriller Starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Mark Ruffalo directed by Martin Scorsese.

 The film Shutter Island starts off with an establishing shot of a boat appearing through thick mist on the sea. Nothing can be seen surrounding the boat and the colour scheme used in this shot is dull and monochrome. This connotes a sense of uneasiness and disorientation as the audience is not given any information about the location, as well as the lack of land and solidity of the situation. Mise on scene of the heavy fog used also creates a sense of mystery and making the audience curious about where the boat is heading to and who are the two figures on the deck. The wide angle camera work and composition of the boat being in the center of the empty surrounding emphasises the isolation of the boat and foresees the detachment of the main character throughout the film. In addition, deep, low orchestral music(non diegetic sound) is used to increase the tension and create an unsettling mood.

Next, the film suddenly cuts to a hunched over figure and the disturbing diegetic sound of someone being sick automatically suggests that something is not right. The main character is then introduced in an over shoulder shot where the camera was deliberately positioned to reveal the character's face through the reflection of the mirror. The close up shot of the man also indicates to the audience that he is an important character whom audiences will sympathise with as his emotions, suffering and vulnerability can be seen clearly in the shot he was introduced in. The use of lighting is also significant as darkness surrounds the man and the only illuminated part of this shot is the distressed face of the man, implicating a sense of discomfort and tension to what lies ahead as well as the character's suffering. The use of dialogue "Pull yourself together, Teddy" gives a vital piece of information to the audience; the man's name.

The next shot is a long shot of Teddy leaving the laboratory. The camera slowly zooms in and slowly focuses on the main character, but starts of with focusing on the shackles hanging from the ceiling. The use of mise en scene of metal shackles hanging all around the area as well as camera work focusing on them implies the importance of them as the film is trying to give the audience more information about the negative nature of this scene, boat and the destination. This further creates an unsettling an uneasy atmosphere as it gives audience the denotation that this boat was used to transport prisoners to and fro, confirming that wherever the destination is, it will not be safe. The shackles may also symbolise the theme of confinement in this film, especially in this long shot where Teddy stands in the center of the room surrounded by shackles and handcuffs. This suggests the symbolism of the character's imprisonment by his past and regrets and the inability to break away from them.

The audience are then introduced to a second character on the front deck of the boat. Teddy immediately seeks for the man's company, albeit cautiously making it obvious that he does not know the man. The two start having a friendly conversation and the use of dialogue gives the audience many vital pieces of information. We learn from the use of dialogues that the man, Chuck, is Teddy's partner for an investigation on an Island where there is a mental hospital for the criminally insane. In the two shot of the men conversing, we can visibly see through Teddy's facial expressions that he is much more relaxed and at ease compared to the extremely worn out state he was introduced in earlier. This is, until he is asked about his lover and the camera switches to a close up shot of Teddy's face as we see teddy's facial expressions change from relaxed to grim.

Teddy then has a flashback of his wife to when she was alive. There are no diegetic sound in the flashback, only the non diegetic sound of the same low orchestral music, suggesting that what appears to be happy good memories on the surface have deeper and darker meanings to it. In addition, the fast paced editing and cuts suggests that there are many things that are not revealed in the flashback and are "cut" out of it. This creates a tensed atmosphere throughout the flashback. Immediately at the flashback ends, a shot of the water is shown. This creates an enigma of the significance of water and why it is related to Teddy's wife. Teddy then explains oddly in clear detail about how his wife died and making it slightly baffling as to why he would share such personal details to a man he just met.

When the island is finally revealed as a wide angle establishing shot, a non diegetic dramatic orchestral music starts, allowing the audience to associate the island with corrupt and terrifying thoughts. As camera zooms and gets closer to the island the music gets louder and more and more intense. The dramatic music as they approach creates a sense of uneasiness and danger even though what is shown on screen in the film visually is completely harmless and normal. This further emphasises that something is definitely off and threatening about the Shutter Island.