Shutter Island Lighting and Shot Analysis

By Mary Hainsby

The director has created the first shot using low key lighting, this makes it difficult for the audience to see what is featured in the aerial shot. The low key lighting sets the tone for the genre and contents of the film, not being able to clearly see the shot translates to the viewer something is being hidden and there is a mystery. The first shot then fades into a long shot of a corridor, the long corridor is only lit be one central hanging light. The single light again creates low key lighting which emphasises the mystery to the audience. The low key lighting also makes the corridor look cramped, dark, gloomy and dingy.

A fade is used again to transition into an extreme-close up on what we presume is the central character’s hand. The use of an extreme-close up focuses the audiences attention on the hand suggesting it holds some importance and relevance to the story. The lighting in this shot reiterates the possible importance of the hand, the hand is brightly lit meaning the action is completely visible to the audience unlike the previous two shots.

The sudden switch to the outside and high key lighting tells the audience that the action in the previous shots is either hidden or happened in the past. The camera angle and shot gives the impression it is a point of view shot. The angel is off centre and not central with the gate which distort the audience.

This shot uses both high and low key lighting, this contrasts and confuses the viewer as part of the room is illuminated. The corners of the room being in complete darkness emphasises the possible mystery that the film will focus around. The outside lighting coming through the doorway suggests something/someone is being kept away from the outside world.

The title sequences fades into the Foley. The low key lighting adds to the overall mystery. This establishing shot tells the audience where the film is set. The dull and gloomy colours featured in this shot set the atmosphere and tone for the movie.