Insanity never was so much fun

I know what you’re thinking. Another Martin Scorsese/Leonardo DiCaprio movie? Seriously, enough Oscar-bait already! Oh, not again!

But fear not, because Shutter Island will be worth it.  

Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, Shutter Island deals with Cold War paranoia and the things-are-not-always-what-they-seem concept. Just in the first scenes of the film, director Martin Scorsese already has us puzzled, as we meet a sweaty and nauseous U.S Marshall, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio). Daniels is on a mission to find a dangerous patient who just escaped from Shutter Island’s Ashecliffe Hospital, assisted by his new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo).

As Daniels and Aule arrive on the island, one already starts feeling a sense of foreboding. The haunting score and the intimidating island makes one feel that things will go wrong from day one, especially when we meet the intriguing Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley). He introduces himself as a visionary psychiatrist and seems willing to help with the investigation. But as the movie progresses one can tell that he’s not being completely honest.

Everybody seems to be hiding something; and Daniels is sure he is about to discover a mind-blowing conspiracy. He is tormented by terrible flashbacks from his past and horrible migraines that push his limits of sanity. DiCaprio is excellent in his portrayal of Daniels, with every gesture showcasing him as a tortured man dealing with his demons. He and Ruffalo have great on-screen chemistry, and it’s not hard to imagine them having a couple of beers after the whole island nightmare is over.  

Shutter Island is mind-bending, puzzling and mystifying, all in a good way. When one thinks that everything has been figured out, there is a plot twist that changes everything and it’s back to square one. The funny moments balance all the convoluted paranoia throughout the film, giving the audience a moment to get their thoughts together.

Even though there are a couple of scenes the movie could do without, it is overall a thrilling ride. Just a little warning: If you start suspecting everyone around you and feel the need to analyze everything, you’re not crazy… it’s just a Shutter Island side effect.

Shutter Island opened Feb. 19.