Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Research Codes and Conventions Shutter Island Trailer Analysis- Main Task



Shutter Island

Shutter island is a 2010 psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. The film is about a U.S Marshall called Edward Daniels played by Leonardo DiCaprio and his partner Chuck Aule played by Mark Ruffalo. They are investigating the disappearance of Rachel Solando, the patient of high security mental unit as the patient unexpectedly vanishes from a locked room within the institute, after she was bought to the unit for drowning her three children.


The trailer uses low key lighting through out to create a sense of darkness to fit the genre of the story. The codes of a psychological thriller include darkness created using low key lighting, a sense of suspense and disequilibrium is created by fast paced editing, for example in the Shutter Island trailer from a 1 minuet within the trailer the editing becomes fast paced to create tension and to build up to the ultimate plot of the trailer. This plot involves a sense that the lead role may have something to do with the story line that’s not the detective role in which we are initially introduced to him as, when another character within the storyline asks “ Where are you going?.”  Additionally the trailer also shows flash backs of what seems to be Edwards past life giving us a sense that there is more to this lead character. The quick cuts used during editing and music are parallel to one another, they only show the main shots of the film and not the connecting scenes of the film to portray a sense of mystery and disequilibrium linked to the codes and conventions of the genre. Parallel sound used within the trailer starts calm and slow as we are being introduced to the characters and the main location in which the story is set. From 1.53-2.04 the music becomes more rapid and violent as the trailer reaches its climax, the fast paced editing also increases to create a sense of suspense, allowing the audience to feel that something drastic is about to happen.
At the start of the trailer you are introduced to the main character, Marshall Teddy Daniels and the antagonist and protagonist. Shots such as ‘Restricted Area’ suggests to the audience that the location is controlled, dangerous and place you don’t want to enter, as you know there will be consequences. Additionally shots of boats suggest to the audience that the location is out of the way not know by many people, perhaps a hidden secret, which also draws the audience into the trailer and gets their attention as they want to be part of the secret. The shots of police officers also suggest that everyone on the island obeys the law and is controlled heavily also suggesting that the location is dangerous.  The main character ‘Teddy’ is wearing a long dull over coat suggesting to the audience that he may have something to hide.
His body language reflects his role as an investigator; he looks at people suspiciously and has his hands in his pockets throughout several scenes. This body language also suggests to the audience that he has something to hide. Throughout the trailer shots of weapons are shown this signifies to the audience that death could be a factor within the trailer, the movement of guns within the trailer creates suspense of how these are going to be used. Non diegetic sounds such as screaming and clocks ticking create suspense, suggest that something bad is coming and suggest that time is a factor within the trailer. Voice over from the Lead role is throughout the trailer and allows us to understand parts of the story from his point of view. Within the trailer signifies such as the extreme close up of ‘RUN’ suggests a twist in the plot, this creates mystery and grabs the audience’s attention. Shots of people being locked up fits in with the codes and conventions of the genre and suggest that these people are dangerous, not just to themselves but others. Within the trailer shots of weapons, blood, disequilibrium (flashbacks), rapid pace, high tension music are all used and link to the general codes and conventions of the genre. Codes and conventions are used to give an insight into the characters themselves and connotes to the audience that they may be mentally unstable, this also suggests to the audience that the main lead role is not the only character that is  hiding something.  

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