Media Analysis; Trailer, 'Shutter Island'

'Shutter Island' is a 2010 psychological thriller starring Leonardo Dicaprio as Marshal Teddy Daniels who goes to a case in Ashecliffe hospital- a fortress-like asylum located on a remote windswept island after an impossible escape of a woman. As the investigation progresses Marshal realises the subliminal hints or terrible deeds happening behind the close doors of the asylum- he'll have to confront his own fears to make it off the island alive. 

A thriller is normally composed of a fight shared between the protagonist and antagonist, after disruption of equilibrium also known as disequilibrium. The narrative then shows a chain of bad events, creating a build up of tension and suspense for the peak of the film. The aim of the battle between the two characters, is for the protagonist to restore justice, whereas the antagonist tries to dismantle it. This narrative is clearly shown in the trailer, ‘Shutter island’ therefore using this information, we can already signify the movie belongs under the Thriller genre. We can also connate that it is a psychological thriller from the conventions which are represented in the trailer. 

Editing: 

Jump cut editing; is a technique used throughout the trailer; more so towards the end. This shows a clear division between equilibrium and disequilibrium, letting the audience know through visuals that something bad is about to happen. The affect this creates on the audience is that they are unable to take their eyes of the screen from all the tension building up higher and higher. This is a variable convention of thriller, as it grabs the attention of the audience pulling them in further to the emotions of the protagonists or main characters; creating a intellectual bond between the two. 

A montage of shots take up a large amount of the trailer; this was used to juxtapose in a fast pace nature that compresses time and conveys a lot of information in a short time period. In an thriller context such as, ‘Shutter Island’ this is done to imitate the heart beat of the protagonist and audience; fasting towards the end, when disequilibrium has taken place. This as a whole affects the audience by building tension, and making them nervous for the narrative and protagonist as they would have built up an psychological relationship with them. 

Sounds:

A non-diegetic soundtrack is playing for the duration of the trailer; it is a very deep but muted and faint sound with the odd harsh loud beat represented every so often. This signified the dark narrative, with the quietness of the tone as if causing the audience to lean in closer; engaging more. This has relations to thriller, as the odd harsh beat or occasional scream is synchronous and parallel to the shots making the atmosphere very ‘jumpy’ and makes the shots more dramatic for the audience.

lighting 

The genre can also be signified through the lighting techniques used. For example; Shutter Island uses de-saturated low key lighting for the entire production; this signifies it as an dark dramatic movie this is because the dull pale lighting creates the vibe that happiness and joy (which can be connoted as light) has been sucked out. At a Signified level, desaturated lighting is also used in equilibrium, to foreshadow bad events which may happen later in disequilibrium and to shatter elements that might suggest the trailer could take a comedic style. 

After interference to the equilibrium, in the trailer we can signify low key lighting. This connotes all the tension and suspense built up is ready to bulge out for the climax. Low key lighting creates a very disastrous and negative atmospheric mood, which will make the audiences emotions sync with the atmosphere or characters. This shows the genre thriller rather than horror because horror uses very harsh low key lighting, to highlight props and costumes within the mise-en-scene to create fright in the audience, whereas thriller takes a more natural approach of darkness, to emphasis the realism in the narrative and cinematography.  

Shadows created by lighting can cause a variety of emotions, this trailer uses the power of shadows to create illusions and highlight features for a more dark spooky effect. Highlighted features on characters are seen in the equilibrium of the trailer to give their role and star persona to the audience; almost foreshadowing the type of person they will be revealed as in the film. Illusions from light and shadow are used around the same time, to get the audiences minds engaging; even putting them on edge as the narrative builds tension. 

mise-en-scene: 

The iconography of the actor Leonardo DiCaprio (the protagonist) is signified as a very romantic gentleman from his famous role in, ‘Titanic’. Therefore for him to be placed in a film production which is very dark it is seen as binary opposites. This has been used to create interest in the film; as people whom enjoy watching Leonardo but not thriller, will rise to the occasion. Binary opposites are also seen in the costume of the characters, where the antagonist are seen in all white. White is a colour of virginity and connoted as pure and gentle, however this doesn't fit with the antagonist whom want to cause destruction and tragicness; this unusual comparison leaves the audience nervous, causing even more build of suspense towards to thriller genre.