Shutter Island
Titles Analysis
Location
The fact that when we first
see the main character he is
being sick from seasickness
automatically makes us feel
sorry for the main character
because he isn’t well. This
is typical for the genre
because they want to create
an event to make us feel
emotion for characters.
This location is typical of the
genre because it is a ordinary
setting that the audience is
familiar with in terms of seeing
this setting on the TV but what
takes place in the setting is not
ordinary. The setting on the
prison ship is typical for the
genre because it tells us that
the people that are going to be
surrounding the main characters
are not going to be typical.
The first time we see
Shutter Island it is half
overcast by cloud. This
creates a air of mystery
about the island. This
location is typical for the
genre because it is a urban
are but not many
The fact that the only way known to
us to get on and off the island is
the dock really indicates how
isolated the main character is from
everyday society. This is typical for
the genre because the character will
be isolated and have to complete the
task by themselves.
There is one orange
light that guides the
main character to the
door. But it is also as
if this sickly yellow
is the last bit of hope
that is left in the
film and this appears
in the beginning of the
movie so it is telling
us that there is no
hope left.
This
used
that
side
Lighting
The fact that the main
character is in a darky lit
room and then when he looks
outside it is unforgivingly
bright. This enhances the
feeling that there is a
lack of knowledge.
The fact that they
have used a blue
tone creates the
atmosphere that the
story is fictional
or fantasy but it
also give the film a
darker aspect.
yellow tone has been
to show the audience
there is a very sick
to society.
The green that they have decided on for
the filter is a sickly green. I is not a
healthy green. This is most likely to
show how unhealthy this place is
Costume
The clothing that the
characters are wearing are
very formal and official. The
fact that they are wearing a
trench coat indicates to the
audience that they are a
detective or a some form of
deceive.
This is a strong indicator
that they are on the boat not
for vacation purposes.
The only clothing that has a
slight hint to happiness is
the main characters
obnoxiously coloured tie.
The fact that they
are wearing ordinary
( that you could
find on the high
street) clothes tell
us that they are not
a particularly
spatial person and
that they have an
ordinary skill set.
This uniform is
smart and looks
like their uniform
is well cleaned
and they take good
care of it. This
tells us that the
guards take pride
in what they do.
The fact that she is wearing a
similar colour pallet to the tie
she is holding indicates that
she has a strong personal
connection to the character that
she is giving the item to. The
light blond curls tell us that
she is youthful but from the
clothes that she is wearing and
how she has stylised her clothes
this informs us of the time
period.
The ferry mans costume
is typical of his job
and there is nothing
extraordinary. They add
to the character
because they make him
seem like he has been
doing the job a while
because the clothes are
worn.
Props
Tie - This object is ordinary but
it has great significance because
it tells the audience that the
woman giving him the tie has
significance in his life and
plays a leading role within his
life.
Hats – The fact that
they are wearing smart
hats tells us that they
are not on this boat for
pleasure but they are
being asked to complete
a mission for work.
The car special forces,
this car is not a ordinary
car so this informs the
audience that the
characters are at a
particular place that does
not have complete access
from the audience.
Chain handcuffs.
This prop is used
to tell us that the
people that are in
this place already
are going to be of
no help to the
detective. But this
is also a useful
indication that
they are on their
own and they are
unsafe.
Hints towards the genre
The fact that one of the main
characters is missing
immediately alerts us to the
fact that this involves the main
characters looking for the
missing woman. So this therefor
implies that the genre is a
detective thriller.
The main characters
are heading towards a
mental institution so
this hints towards the
fact that this film is
a psychological film.
It unknowingly to the
audience tells them
that one of the main
characters is mentally
insane.
The storyline keeps on
being interrupted by
Teddy Daniels memories
about his wife. These
memories often abruptly
stop and then the film
continues with reality.
But it leaves the
audience confused as to
who this new character
is.
The last hint we get towards the
genre and the story is when they
are about to enter the mental
institution and Teddy talks about
the electric fence as though he
is familiar with it. But he is a
detective so he wouldn’t be
familiar with electric fences.
This line alone reduces his
credibility.