Shutter Island Analysis

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Shutter Island, a psychological thriller, directed by Martin Scorsese incorporates techniques throughout the film to reveal the truth in Shutter Island. The film is based on a missing patient investigation but the truth shows it is a psychological experiment on Andrew to bring him back to sanity. By analysing certain scenes including the opening scene, Teddy and Chuck are addressing Dr Cawley, and whist Teddy and Chuck are interviewing the patients. These three scenes assist in displaying Shutter Island through film techniques such as camera angle and mise en scene.
The opening scene uses camera angle techniques and symbolism to expose that Teddy is a prisoner on Shutter Island. A medium shot of Teddy violently throwing up in the bathroom is followed by a close up shot to observe Teddy at the window saying, ‘that’s a lot of water.’ The audience can see that Teddy is scared of the water. Water symbolises the truth and is continuously exposed throughout the film. When the real facts are shown, the viewer Andrew Laediss is said to not be able to live with his trauma and guilt so created a second personality (Teddy) to escape it. A medium shot is used as Teddy is seen walking through chains and shackles clanging together. This gives the audience a prison like sense, this is later linked to reality as Teddy is in fact a prisoner at Ashcliffe Asylum. Chuck is seen for the first time with an over the shoulder shot from Teddy’s perspective on the other side of a prison like gate.

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