Shutter Island - A Movie Review

Strange things have been happening on this island ever since we got here.

Arriving on a mysterious island in 2010, Shutter Island is about a U.S. marshal who investigates a murder case on an island. This is not just any island. Occupying a hospital for the mentally insane, Teddy Daniels acquires several disturbing cases.

I cannot believe that I have never seen Shutter Island until now. It has been a while since I have seen a gripping thriller. Although I had one specific story element spoiled, it did not ruin the exciting watch. Shutter Island is a well-acted and nail-biting film that was directed to its highest acclaim.

Leonardo Dicaprio should have been nominated for his spellbinding performance! DiCaprio studied the subtleties of his character. He bequeaths astounding monologues. Fighting to figure out a difficult murder case, Teddy struggles through the plagues of bewildering guilt. Pay close attention to Teddy’s story.

Shutter Island is encased with notable acting talents. Mark Ruffalo never disappoints. He is a strong actor who definitely does his research. I was impressed with how well Ruffulo examined his character. He and DiCaprio were excellent in their interactions. Now I would like to see them in more films together.

Ben Kingsley delivers an extraordinary performance. Other highlights include Emily Mortimer, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, John Carroll Lynch, and a terrific performance delivered by Jackie Earle Haley. Credit also goes to extras who played mental patients.

The editing and cinematography for Shutter Island deserve the highest recognition. Camera angles delved into the perspective of one of the characters. Here’s why you have to watch Shutter Island a second time. The perspective and angle of the film completely change.

Martin Scorses knew how to incorporate subtlety. He did an outstanding job setting the ominous and mysterious tone. There are so many little moments that one can miss. Most importantly, Scorses did an excellent job in character direction.

With a film that has several twists and turns like this, Scorses helped his cast look between the lines. If you notice continuity errors in the film, don’t worry, those are intentional. There is one moment that is hard to catch because it only lasts for a second. Even the title of the film is a play on words.

The best locations were picked for Shutter Island. Boston Harbor was picked to shoot scenes that took place on the island. Filming on the cliffside must not have been easy, but it was a mesmerizing scene.

Filmmakers kept the setting as gloomy as possible with dark clouds and rain pouring down. Credit goes to the visual effects team for creating an immense thunderstorm. A notable location takes place inside a dark prison with jungles of staircases aligned.

Fair warning, Shutter Island is dark. There are a few gruesome scenes and jump scares. I was on the edge of my seat at Teddy slowly walked through the dark prison meeting disturbing mental patients.

Horror being one of my favorite dramas, I had a great time watching this film. It gets into your mind. It makes you think. It even makes you question what you just saw. That is an important component that all psychological movies should contain. If your mind is racing, then the film has done its duty.

My advice if you ever watch Shutter Island is to not look up any information about the film, nor the trailer. I would love to watch this movie a second time to see what I missed on my first watch. It is an engrossing and entertaining film from start to finish.