Shutter island Set up evaluation

Shutter Island: Set up evaluation

Shutter Island's set-up instantaneously paints a picture of an imperfect world, its time frame setting is plastered chromatically in black and white across the screen “BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS 1954”. This is all in a bold blunt font,   immediately offsetting the audience.

The first thing we are greeted by as an audience is an eerie ship coming into focus through a cloud of fog; accompanied by slow, off-putting music. This immediately gives the impression that something’s going to happen. The eerie atmosphere becomes amplified further by the desolate, secluded area around the boat. The boat's surrounded by nothing but water for miles which gives the impression that they are trapped. This looming sense of entrapment grows throughout the opening, with important information like there’s only one way onto and off of the island being divulged, shortly before mention of a storm coming. This hampers any chances of a quick escape, trapping the officers on the island. Situations like this are typical of thriller movies as they are used to add to and build up the suspense right from the start.

The set up tries to establish the characters as realistic, and human. Glimpses of this come from the opening scene, where our first character ‘Teddy’ is throwing up. Teddy is shot with chiaroscuro lighting casting half of him in shadow, in a way reflecting a split persona from the get go. The instability of his mind is developed by his hatred for the water, this shows weakness and hints at his past events; and is Proof that the director is using narrative retardation on his character. Following this we see a track shot, immediately showing the difference in power between the two of them. This can also be seen as a representation of Teddy’s inner mind and his locked away memories. Upon exiting the cell he steps onto deck to see his partner, whom he gets into a casual conversation with, addressing him as ‘ the legend’ and immediately showing the difference in power between the two of them. We also find out his colleague is new, and therefore possibly untrustworthy. He asks Teddy if he’s got a wife, this causes a response about how he used to although she died in a fire while he was at work. Being very persistent about how it wasn't the fire that killed her but the smoke. Constant reference to this seems to develop the audiences anxiety over the whole incident. The camera flicks between flashbacks and views of the water passing by the boat, furthering their anxiety with choppy unstable visuals.

The relationships between characters are immediately revealed within the first 7 minutes of the movie. These same relationships however keep us questioning why they exist as such throughout the film. For example as the partner relationship between Teddy, the marshal, and his new partner Chuck. The audience recognizes the superior officer and what seems to be his only friend in the shut in situation he’s been placed into. As they land on the island there’s an immediate negative relationship between the guards and the marshal, with mention of how they are all “a bit tense”. Subtle mentions like this can be seen as a very important clue to future happenings in the film.

 The world in Shutter Island is painted as a harsh, heartless world; this is shown through mediums such as the fog isolating our ‘heroes’ along with the chains or handcuffs hanging from the top of a prison ship. All these show the danger surrounding our main characters and lean the audience towards caring for their safety throughout. Shutter Island's  mise en scene also shows barbed electrified wire and high walls through low camera angles, subtly reinforcing the idea of the island as a cage, trapping and isolating the characters. Pathetic fallacy is also used to show the coming of a storm or an approaching danger; Immediately giving the film a enigmatic feel.    

The conflicting personalities of Teddy and McPherson can be seen right from the start, with examples like their exchange before they enter the prison; and as they are giving up of their guns to the deputy warden. The harsh greeting the marshal receives from the deputy and the other guards can also be seen as a strain expected to grow throughout the film. There’s insecurity among the guards over the actions of the marshal and a close watch is held on him at all times in the opening. My prediction is that it seems logical for an exchange in power to take place between Teddy and Chuck, but later in the film due to how he’s been placed in as the young and upcoming officer. This evolving personality is an effective way of hooking the audience, it's also one of the first enigma codes set up in the film. Enigma codes are used in thrillers typically to entice the audience and keep them on the edge of their seats. Shutter Island performs this very effectively by placing the leads in a situation where they further their future by glimpses of their past. All this secrecy insures the audience need to work out what's going on, or wait until its revealed later in the film.

Shutter Island’s set up starts directly after the entrance of the boat, with a image of ‘teddy’ staring into a mirror; this can be seen as showing a reflection of one’s mind or inner self. The words he chants to himself in the build up “Pull yourself together teddy, it’s only water” come as a reinforcement on a character lacking mental concentration and control.  The mirror also shows the chiaroscuro lighting on his face, with the use of shadows and low key lighting. The film's unsettling intro shows his inner mental state; big shadows with Teddys face half shadowed. The scene suggests the presence of his dark past from the start.

Flashbacks play an important role in the setup of Shutter Island showing his past life and how there used to be happiness. They show this with a use of bright almost surreal colours in the brief scenes between Teddy and his wife. This helps build his character, and also distorts the sense of space and time confusing the audience.  These flashbacks are cut with obstructive editing not showing the whole of the scenario using narrative retardation. Effects like these therefore leaving the audience in a similar state of disorientation to that of our main character Teddy.