ANALYSIS INTO SIMILAR PRODUCTS 3 – 7 SHOTS ANALYSISShutter Island Trailer

Daryl Teague

This extreme wide shot establishes the setting of the trailer creates a tense atmosphere, this is created by the lighting being darker and the dark clouds which are gradually casting over the island. This signifies mystery and evil which constructs the narrative that the island is not what it seems, creating anxiety for the audience. This shows a suspense filled atmosphere created by the opening, which can create excitement for the audience and ensure them to keep watching. This shot is conventional of film trailers and the thriller genre as it establishes the setting for the audience and creates an atmosphere which can be both positive and negative but usually negative to add the mystery and suspense. This shot is great for appealing to the conventions due to it creating uncertainty and apprehension for the viewer. This analytical perspective of the shot will enable me to use more conventional shots in my trailer.

This mid shot of the mental patient shows interaction with audience, as the woman is looking at the camera mysteriously, this creates suspense to the audience and allows them to feel involved which can create a scare effect. This is very conventional of thriller movies, specifically psychological thrillers as it is cerebral and engages with the audience to create tension which is also very conventional of thriller films. The mid shot is also conventional of film trailers, however, the character looking at the camera is only slightly conventional. As the character is a mental patient, this also adds a gloomy effect, the handcuffs also make it scary for the audience as she could be dangerous as she seems frightening. This analytical perspective of the shot will enable me to use more conventional shots in my trailer.

This wide shot is used to show the three characters together and to compare them. It also shows the characters costumes which portrays the period of time which they are in and also the Marshalls and police officers which are usually associated with crime or action genres so this challenges typical conventions of the psychological thriller conventions. The shot constructs the narrative as it shows the characters entering the hospital on the island and shows that it is dangerous due to the police officers and Marshalls being present. This shot is conventional of thriller movies as it is typically used, it is also conventional of film trailers as it a shot used to show characters together. This analytical perspective of the shot will enable me to use more conventional shots in my trailer. The lighting in this shit is natural which gives it a realistic feel.

A medium shot is used in the trailer to show a captured prisoner, the bars shows this as he is locked in which signifies that he is dangerous as well. The heavy use of tattoos on his body also suggest this as it is not so common. The character is also staring into the camera to connect with the audience and create tension for them. Doing this creates scare which is also helped by the low key lighting which is used and also shows evil and mystery. This shot is conventional of thriller films as it creates a tense atmosphere which is a key part of the thriller genre. This shot helps construct the narrative as it shows the dangerous people within this hospital and on this island. This analytical perspective of the shot will enable me to use more conventional shots in my trailer.

This eye level close up shows the word “run” on a notebook which shows a sense of danger for the audience and creates a tense atmosphere which is conventional of the thriller genre. This shot constructs the narrative as it shows the main character could possibly be in trouble and needs to run as he is as risk of something mysterious and unknown which grads the audience’s attention and can encourage them to watch the film to find out what the main character is running from. This analytical perspective of the shot will enable me to use more conventional shots in my trailer. The focus of the shot is solely on the book so that the audience can easily see the word.

This medium shot shows the main character being psychologically unstable when he is dreaming of his dead wife which he murdered, the shot is very colourful and shows use of special effects to rapidly deteriorate the main characters wife. This scene is different to others and not very conventional as it is not often used. However it is conventional of psychological thrillers as the character is psychologically dreaming of this. This shot constructs the narrative as it shows the main character is not what he seems which allows the audience to identify the mystery of the shutter island which they are on, the setting is an average home which suggests that it was the main characters home. The lighting is also low with a spotlight to allow the main character as his fading wife to stand out to the audience.

The text used to show the title of the film is very conventional due to font, the font is very bold and stands out well due to the colours, used, the white and black help this stand out as they contrast each other. The text is very conventional of the thriller genre as it is large and very visible. This is also conventional of film trailers as the title of the film is always shown at some point in the trailer, typically the end with thriller movies. The font is masculine which ties into the theme of the film as the dark background allows the strong font to signify danger and trouble. The connotations of the black background signifies darkness which fits in also with the theme of the film.