Shutter Island Film Opening Analysis

Shutter Island

The purpose of a film opening is to reveal action and instantly gain the viewers interest. The opening sequence of Shutter Island completes these aims successfully. We begin with a dark shot, immediately creating a dark and negative atmosphere within the audience. The diegetic sound is a sound track composed by classical instruments. Classical instruments are commonly used within horrors or thrillers. The heavy sounds from the instruments and the fact that this particular style of music is generally used within horror or thriller films, indicates that this film too belongs within the horror/ thriller genre. Revealing the genre of the film is a convention of a film opening, this aim has already been achieved very early on in the film. 

We witness very jolty movements created by the camera, this may be to imply that the film is not going to have a positive smooth feel, but a traumatic occurrence(s) or outcome. We are then shown fire along with a gun. Fire is associated with pain, when you come in contact with fire you receive a burn. This may be suggesting that pain and suffering will be an aspect of the film . The gun, which connotes violence is viewed as a negative object for obvious reasons. The outcome of a gun is also pain, and along with fire sometimes death. 

There is then a shot of rainy weather which slowly morphs in to snowy weather, suggesting that time has or is passing. Rain and snow are cold and wet and again dark. This is pathetic fallacy. There is a consistent focus on darkness, telling us that the film is going to be portentous. 

We are then shown the title, which is red. The color red has the connotative aspects of blood and evil, again reminding the audience of the genre. We then see a close up shot of one of one of the characters face possibly the antagonist or protagonist. This is the first time we see any character, creating a feel of almost relief . The close up shot allows the audience to see the characters facial expressions, allowing us to decide his emotions. The characters face demonstrates emotions such as stress anger and fear. 

The lighting changes from dark to light, illustrating contrast. We detect that this is a flashback scene as the character appears fresher and younger, and the entirety of the film so far has been in low key lighting, withholding a dark tone. We then switch back to a dark shot of the water and then witness a freeze frame of the female character from the high key shot. The freeze frame suggests her significant role within the film. 

Already, many of the conventions of a film opening have been covered. We have seen action, decided the genre, have become deeply interested in the mystery and have seen some main characters.