Shutter island

Shutter Island 

The film opening is to hook the viewer immediately, if the opening of a film is catching then the viewer won’t want to watch and engage with the film. When the titles are running you see the company logo, paramount pictures, the logo is usually based to the style of the movie, in this case a thriller, therefore it was dark and gloomy. The celebrity enforcement for the film is what makes most viewers want to go and see a certain film, Leonardo DeCaprio is the celebrity enforcement in Shutter Island. The film starts with a car driving up to a set of gates, the gates show uncertainty and security. It starts off very dark and gloomy, there are shadows in the low light which suggests someone creeping around. The camera changes viewpoint quite a lot in the opening which suggests someone is moving around and creates mystery due to the low light and shadows. There is rain in the start of the film, then there’s snow which tells you that it’s filmed over a long period of time. Whilst the titles are still running a gun is shown, this suggests danger. The title for the film then appears in red which is a connotation for danger, all danger signs and blood are red which makes you link the film to danger and people may be hurt.

 You first see a location and date (Boston harbour, 1954), the opening scene begins with a wide shot of the boat appearing through the mist, this creates a sense of mystery as all you can see is thick fog and then a boat appearing. This start to a film is engaging and creates a feeling of anxiety and uncertainty. Although you’re given the location you aren’t immediately sure where the film is because it’s so gloomy.  This makes the audience want to see what happens next and grabs their attention. The dramatic music makes the audience associate the people and places with good or bad by the tone key of the music. It can also change the audience’s mood.

The next shot is an over the shoulder shot, The first time you see a full view of Leonardo DiCaprio's character his face shows; stress, fear, and worry, and it’s deliberate to show the characters Teddy, Leonardo DiCaprio's characters reflection. This connotes that the character has a split personality because you can see him and his reflection. This makes the audience feel uneasy as the character may be untrustworthy, even thou he is a man of authority and the audience should be able to trust. The use of a mirror is very stereotypical in a thriller film.

You usually meet the protagonist in the opening scenes of a film and in this case you met, Leonardo DeCaprio, you a protagonist is a ‘good guy’ you can tell that the part Leonardo DeCaprio is playing is a protagonist as he is seen to have a police badge. As a viewer the police badge that he wears on this left hip, shows that he has authority and isn’t a bad character.