1. EDITING
They blur between reality and fiction seems to become more and more realistic. They use flash
backs over and over again in the film to reveal more and more of the past which relates to the
continuation of the film.
CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLES/MOVEMENT
They uses a lot of high angle to low angles to show who is in control of the seen, they use bird
eye view shots in action scenes to show the movements, this is also used in dramatic scene
such as when Dicaprio hold his children in his arms. We use close ups on main characters
when we use dialogue to show the emotions. We uses high angle when we talk to the wife to
show that he is dominating.
SOUND
Subjective sound can is used to show the mental problems that he faces, it is always eerie
which changes. In climatic points the sound seems to cut out apart from diegetic sound, this
makes it very realistic as it sounds like you are there, there is no sound that represents this
moment is a film. The unsettling sound of single keys makes the film unsettling. The sound
changes at the end to diegetic this makes it seem as if it is over but then when the twist is
revealed
THEMES & MOTIFS
Theme of isolation throughout out the film. This is portrayed in the the many times such as
Shutter (Shut in/out ??)within the title, and the uses of cells and locks as these shows as this
shows people on the island they won’t be let off.
SYMBOLIC CODES
The types of clothes worn by the people represent who they are, works are grey, patients are
white, enforcers blue and the heads are “fancy dress”. This is shown in when Dicaprio changes
clothes at the end from his black to white showing his transition from his mental state, becoming
a patient.
IDEOLOGY
The world is full of uncontrolled chaos that can only be held back by social restraints, the people
in the mental institution don't have these restraints
LIGHTING
The keep it dark, mostly with the lighting behind them, making the characters very black and
white.
2. NARRATIVE
Its very serious when the protagonists and antagonists speak but the sub characters have quite
uplifting voices and eerie dialogue which real contrast with the main expectably because of the
tone they convey their messages with.
CHARACTERS
REPRESENTATION
As the clothes change on Dicaprio (Dark/White) this seems to mimic his change of mind. As the
blur between reality and fictions seems to become more and more present in the film the way
that Dicaprio is portrayed changes as we prepare for the reveal at the end. The types of clothes
seem to show how people are represented in the film as in the end Dicaprio's clothes switch to
white which represents him being a patient.
SETTING & MISE-EN-SCENE
The setting is very isolated, at points in the film the character wear very contrasting colours to
one another this shows the
MOOD & TONE
There is always a bit of ambiguousness in the film that seems to grow and grow as the film
continues. By the end of the film the mood becomes very dark as we see the death of his
children by the woman he loves, it shows when his sanity broke.