Shutter Island (2010)

Director: Martin Scorsese 


Writers : Laeta Kalogridis (screenplay) and Dennis Lehane (novel)


Stars : Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer and Mark Ruffalo.




The film starts off with its title sequence which has been presented in a black background with dull grey typography this sets the mood as being depressing as there’s no colour within the audiences view.  Also as the title sequence is being shown, the music which has been chose to be played in the background is a draining, high pitch sound which can make the viewers feel on edge and disorientate them.  This is a good thing because it means that the audience can focus and be intrigued early on in the film as they are wondering what’s going to happen.

Straight after the title sequence, the audience are shown what area and what year the film is being set in, this allows the audience to connect with the film as the director wants to set the scene and make the audience feel as if they’re as well.

It begins with a boat appearing out of the fog after a few seconds of just showing a blank foggy screen. The location is set in an isolated area which automatically unease's the audience mind. Also because the weather's dull and miserable, it reflects on what the audience should be feeling. Moments later the audience are introduced to the one of the star characters who is played by Leonardo DiCaprio, our first moments of the film are shown by his saying to himself "pull yourself together", this suggests that something has already happened therefore we feel a sense of his emotions as he has been shown in a state. 

As the scene progresses onwards, they arrive to the island and a soundtrack in the background arises and begins to become continuous, however as time goes by the musics level of pitch increases as they're get closer to their destination. This suggests that they're destination is not a desirable place and that perhaps something bad might be happening their. 


Overall the beginning of this film consists of many conventions that makes up a thriller film, as its tense and doesn't reveal anything straight away as there's a lot of mystery towards it. Its a psychological thriller which make the audience having to think a lot and plays around with their mind.