Shutter Island - opening credits analysis.

Shutter island is a 2010 american psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. The film is based on Dennis Lehane's novel with the same name, which was published in 2003. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a U.S. Marshal Edward 'Teddy' Daniels, who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island.

Directed by: Martin Scorsese 
Produced by: Mike Medavoy 
                      Arnold W. Messer 

                      Bradley J. Fiscner 
                      Martin Scorsese 
Screenplay by: Laeta Kalogridis 
                        Steven Knight (uncredited)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio
              Mark Ruffalo 
              Ben Kingsley 
              Michelle Williams 
              Patricia Clarkson 
              Max von Sydow 
Cinematography: Robert Richardson
Edited by: Thelma Schoonmaker
Production Company: Appian Way Productions
                                   Phoenix Pictures 
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

The opening scene starts with a shot of a darkly lit corridor. The music is sharp and full of suspense and the dark red credits add colour and danger to the piece, creating visual tension. There is then the spiraling image of a staircase, and the credits stating who produced the film, the credits blurred throughout their duration on the screen which creates suspense for the audience, maybe portraying uncertainty or decision making.
There is then a straight cut to another darkly lit image of a gate. The ambient sound of the rain and the non diegetic music both add to the morbid setting, sound mixing is used to make the rain sound louder over the top of the music. The creepy mis en scene of this scene makes the audience anxious as to what will happen next.
The camera then moves to a close up shot of a hand. The identity of this character remains unknown, and the quick, jolty movements the hand makes alludes to some type of physical struggle. At this part in the sequence, the music crescendos and becomes louder as the image changes, putting the audience on their toes as if something bad is going to happen.
The next shot is of another gate, however this time the camera moves closer towards the gate as if it is going to enter through it, the camera acts as if it is a person, and what you see on the screen is what that person would see in their eyes, you are able to go through the gat and see what is behind it, adding mystery to the sequence.
The scene then changes to a room engulfed in flames as the credit for 'Ben Kingsley' appears clearly and bold, all credits are in capital letters so the audience are able to see. The scene then cuts to a shot of a gun facing the audience. The gun is held down by someones foot, and is dragged away, this adds danger and crime to the scene, this is a convention of a thriller and is what the audience are expecting to see.
The shot then fades to a dark shot of snow falling, this movie presents the people starring one at a time. The use of the colours black and red, and the powerful music makes the overall mise en scene full of danger and tension.
Many of the shots are replaced with another by using the editing tool of fading, an image is placed underneath another as one fades out, so you can see 2 shots at once, however one grows more into focus as the other is removed from view. This adds to the quick, messy state and suggests that their are a lot of continued mysteries within the film.
There is then a mid shot of a room full of chains, the room looks quite old, and has barred doors like it is a prison, this adds suspense and mystery as the audience will be wondering where this movie is to take place, this room and the gate images all add to the idea that part of this movie will take place within a prison.
There is then a sudden flicker of a match, which is the only shot that has real lighting throughout the sequence. When the match is lit, the music stops and the screen turns to black, this adds tension and suspense and leaves the audience on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens. The music then starts again, (heavy based tones), as the camera changes to a long view shot of a dark, isolated island. This connects to the idea of being isolated in a prison, which was suggested throughout the opening sequence.
The music then stops again, and then starts again when the title of the movie is added to the screen, the music is so deep and full of suspense, a typical convention of thriller films. 
The title 'SHUTTER ISLAND' is blood red and bold, capitalised letters, which creates visual tension and is very clear to read. The title is then zoomed on dramatically, as the camera goes through the 'R' in 'shutter' to begin with the film.