Shutter Island ots Analysis

Mise En Scene The opening title sequence of shutter island starts in docks and then progresses to a forest or woods where the truck that the main characters are in. Finally the opening title sequence ends up in an asylum, the asylum has high walls and a not very modern looking exterior. The lighting in the opening scene of shutter island is dull, although it is bright it has a grey tint to it as if it is a rainy day, this is typical of the thriller genre as applies tension and suspense through the dim lighting and the implement of a cloudy day.

The costumes used In the Opening title sequence are the “classic” detective outfits, a trench coat, hat and suit; this has come to be expected by the audience as it has been used so often for detectives in the thriller genre. The other characters are wearing guard uniforms and they are all carrying weapons. The props that have been used for the title sequence of shutter island are the guns that each of the guards are carrying, the truck the characters all use to get from the docks to the asylum and the barbed wire used to top the walls all these props make the asylum feel restricted and closed in making the atmosphere very tense which is normal in thriller films.

The actors all have very serious statures and they all have very to the point, blunt facial expressions this is typical in thriller films as the characters in crime thrillers are generally shown to be intelligent and single-minded.

Cinematography There are a variety of shots in this opening sequence; there are one or two wide establishing shots; there are various close-ups of the characters and of the location and props.

Editing The editing used in the opening title sequence uses multiple lengths of shot and has good continuity as it flows with the rest of the shots to make it seem like it makes sense that this particular sequence of shots goes together.

Sound The soundtrack used in the opening title sequence for shutter island uses very low pitched instruments and is very deep and ambient. The music intensifies as the sequence continues until the characters reach the asylum and then it stops, after the silence. This music is typical of the thriller genre as it keeps changing like the thriller plots normally do as they usually have twists in them.