Movie Review: Shutter Island

Shutter Island is a 2010 neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Laeta Kalogridis.

The movie is depicted through the foggy lens of our protagonist, U.S Marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) as they boat their way to the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane on Boston Harbor, Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of patient Rachel Solando.

Discoveries, truths, fabrications and falsities are accumulated to have the viewer right where the movie wants them. Chasing the truth to lose tail of his own, Teddy finds himself being picked apart in each dark secret that is revealed - losing everything he knew (or everything he thought he knew) in the process. “Which would be worse, to live as a monster or to die as a good man?”

I found this movie to be brilliantly confusing and absolutely earth-shattering, offering one of cinema’s greatest plot twists. Though not considered one of Scorsese’s best works, it’s incredibly notable within the psychological genre and has left it’s impact on avid fans and curious watchers alike. DiCaprio’s portrayal of the unreliable narrator is absolutely enticing - the seasick metaphor of an Island bound by a single man’s misdeed and the fear of dipping toes and testing water at the expense of clear and saline truths. The incorporation of the tinted lighting, jumpy, unnatural shots, gritty dialogue, well-hidden details and unsettling imagery make for a strong and unforgettable watching experience. I highly recommend anybody to make this a bucket list watch (the first watch counts the most!)