Shutter Island Analysis

Director: Martin Scorsese

As we will soon be creating our own thriller I decided to watch Shutter Island and analyse different techniques and skills implemented by the director, some of which we may be able to emulate in our own video. Shutter Island draws on elements of psychological thriller and film noir, Scorsese said that he wanted to inhabit many more genres within the film than a simple horror/thriller. Scorsese demonstrates his film love for Hitchcockian shots by implementing very similar ones of his own.

Vertigo

Shutter Island We see our main protagonist, Edward Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) first on a ferry, wretched with a seasickness that is a part of his continuing personal malaise. He and his partner are travelling over the water to a scarily forbidding prison called Shutter Island, a former civil-war fortress that has been converted into a maximum-security facility for the criminally insane. In the very first scene we are already bombarded by uncomfortable noises that are very difficult for the viewer to watch/listen to. We are forced to listen to the retching of the main character. Many people associate this noise with painful memories, already causing the viewer to feel tense and uncomfortable. The title sequence for the film is shown shortly after, in which very loud and invasive 20th century classical music consumes the audio. For a moment we are engulfed in music, then Scorsese takes us straight out of the loud music and into dialogue between our protagonist and another character. This quick change between pace and tone is very effective in creating a tense atmosphere. Some songs also use the bass to mimic a fast heartbeat, this is used in many films and the noise influences the audiences heartbeat to rise in pace. Many songs also quickly contrast high notes with very low bass notes. Camera Techniques Martin Scorseses Shutter Island uses a series of camera techniques including long, medium, and close up shots in order to convey a sense of detachment from society and a sense of solitude that DiCaprios character exhibits within the film. A long shot is an orientation shot by definition that establishes setting and can sometimes suggest isolation. The film begins with a ship emerging out from behind fog and is captured by a long shot. The long shot allows us to see that the ship and its passengers are extremely alone, and entering unknown territory,

thus it orientates the viewers to the characters surroundings. The director then seeks to give viewers more information with a medium shot. A medium shot will give the viewers relationship information relative to the characters surroundings due to a characters place in the setting. In Shutter Island, the camera captures DiCaprio and his partner chatting to each other in the opening scene. We learn from the information shot that DiCaprio is accompanied by his partner onto Shutter Island and both are alone on the ship. The viewers begin to realize DiCaprios character is troubled by some unknown factor due to his appearance and tone conversation with his partner. The close up shot also helps reveal emotions and expressions otherwise hidden with a wider shot. The close up of DiCaprio also shows his troubled nature. The viewer sees that he is alone, troubled, and confused. He is seeking some kind of truth on Shutter Island in order to satisfy his inner feelings.

The above shot of the boat is an establishing shot. It emerges from the fog, giving the film a mysterious genre.

This scene, during the uncomfortable retching, allows the audience to relate and develop emotional links with the main character. We feel sympathy for the character at this point because both the audience and the character share the same, uncomfortable emotions due to his seasickness.

Symbolism:

Water: Through psychologically expressive and symbolic uses of mise-en-scene (visual aspects of the film such as the set/setting, props, actors/characters, costumes and lighting) are used to exemplify the tone and meaning of Shutter Island. For example: the setting of Shutter Island drastically reflects DiCaprios character. The set of the film being an insane asylum can be perceived as symbolic towards Daniels mental illness: it is dark, complex, and has many layers. Also, the location of the asylum being on an island is symbolic of Daniels loneliness and immobilization. The symbolism of Shutter Islands setting is immensely affected by water. In the opening scene of the film, it is made apparent that Daniels is terrified and unable to cope with water, which makes his escape from the island seem impossible. His subconscious phobia of water could be associated with the death of his children, which supports a subconscious association of water to reality. Water is a frequent aspect to the settings in this film: the storm could symbolize reality trapping Daniels on the island until he discovers the truth. Fire: Just as the use of water in the setting of Shutter Island symbolizes reality, the use of fire as a form of lighting is used to convey the hallucinations and delusions of Daniels in waking life as well as dreams. Therefore, Scorsese accompanies Daniels hallucinations and delusions with fire to symbolize that they are illusions. For example: when Daniels and the real Rachel are in talking in the cave, their only source of light is the campfire. This implies that the real Rachel was an illusion. Also, in the dream sequence of Daniels and Laeddis, the prominent light source is the fireplace, suggesting that Daniels perception of Laeddis does not exist. Again, fire is used as the main source of light during the conversation between Nobles and Daniels. Not only does Daniels Hallucinate Delores in this scene, but he misinterprets the conversation he has with Nobles which further supports Daniels insanity. Overall, this film is not one of Scorseses best works but the film is a labyrinth of intertwining narratives that tie together for an amazing plot twist. The ideas of physiological instability included in my treatment are prevalent in this film and Scorseses different cinematic techniques to portray the idea of delusions and an unstable mentality are extremely effective and inspiring. Ryan Still, Signing out.