The target audience is older teenagers and adults, as the
certificate rating is a 15. The film would appeal to predominantly males, due
to the horrific nature of some of the scenes in the film, although it would be
entertaining for both genders.
In the film, the protagonist, Teddy Daniels, is a detective,
who is just coming to terms with the death of his wife. He is also on a quest
to try and find a woman, who is missing from a high security prison on a
secluded island in the US.
Some elements of the film are realistic, as they could
happen in real life. For example, they arrive to the island on a boat, which is
something that could easily happen in real life. They also carry guns, which is
something many American detectives do.
The theme of justice is something that is present in a lot
of thriller films, and throughout Shutter Island, there is a desire for
justice, and to find out what has happened to the woman who has gone missing.
The mysterious start to the film also makes it like a
typical thriller – first frame shows just a grey frame, which makes the
audience wonder what it might develop into – cloud, fog or sea. In
addition, flashbacks are also used,
although the flashbacks are quite short, making the audience wonder what was
happening in the flashback, and how that may affect the overall outcome of the
film. At one point at the beginning of
the film, the flashback creates a contrast between the grey/blue of the sky,
ship and sea that the scene is set on, and the colourful blouse and setting of
the flashback.
Later on, a flashback to Marshal in the army is triggered by
the music playing. The music increased in tempo, as a gun is kicked away from
someone bleeding, gives the audience a very different view of what Marshal is
like. Before, the audience may have thought that he is a caring man, but we are
now shown that he let someone bleed to death.
There is a lot of atmospheric music used in the film, which
creates the feeling of tension. For example, when the two detectives are arriving
on the island, orchestral music, gathering in tempo, is used, creating the
feeling of tension and that at some point, a large event in the film will
happen. This helps to keep the attention of the audience, as the audience want
to find out how the film will develop from this point.
In addition, a lot of diegetic sound is used in the film,
which is something the director, Martin Scorsese, does often. For example, when
the door of one of the prison cells is slammed, a banging sound is heard. This emphasises
to the audience that the characters are in a place of danger, and can also make
the audience feel scared and apprehensive.
The types of shot used in the film are also in-keeping with
the thriller genre. A lot of close up facial shots are used in the film, which
allow the audience to see the full facial expressions of the actor. There are
also a lot of over-the-shoulder shots used, which allow the audience to see the
person speaking, whilst also seeing the reactions of the person being spoken
to.
At one point in the film, when the detectives are being
driven to the prison, the shot pans round from the characters in the car, to a
gravestone. This indicates to the audience that people have died where the characters
are going, which could make the audience feel scared. A few moments later, when the car arrives at
the prison gate, a point of view shot is shown through a barbed wire. This is
almost like the audience are looking over the prison wall trying to escape,
again, making the audience feel intimidated.
When the detectives are interviewing the nurses, an upward
angle long shot is used. This allows us to see part of the nurses heads
(indicating that we are at their level), but the upward angle makes the
detective seem in a position of power and authority.
The props used also create the feeling of fear within the
audience. The detectives are seen wearing a grey top hat with brown overcoats
and a cigar, which paints the stereotypic image of what a detective looks like.
When the detectives arrive on the island, we are shown a
scene where a police officer instructs them to hand in their guns. This shows
to the audience that they are in a very dangerous place without any protection,
again, adding to the fear of the film.
At one point, we are shown inside the cell of the woman who
has gone missing. The cell is dimly lit, the walls are painted grey, there are
small high-up windows with bars, and there is a cold concrete floor, which
creates quite a depressing scene for the audience. In the room, there is
nothing more than a small metal bed, and we are told that the inmates get only
two pairs of shoes. Again, this scene tells the audience that the characters
are in a very dangerous place, and may make the audience fear for the safety of
the detectives.
Before the detectives interview the nurses at the prison, we
are shown outside where people are hunting for the missing woman. Outside, it
is raining, the sky and rocks are all very grey, and it is getting dark. This
stereotypically depressing image tells the audience that a dangerous event
could potentially happen.
Above: the official Trailer for the film Shutter Island.
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