Shutter Island (dir. Martin Scorsese, 2010) - EveryFilmIWatch Review
Shutter Island is one of Scorsese’s most unique offerings, quite unlike the bulk of his extraordinary canon of work. While Shutter Island still has its fair share of Scorsese-isms, a more dominating, alien atmosphere shrouds the script, an atmosphere that only works to accentuate how unsettling the film already is. With a plot that handles an investigation into a missing person case at an isolated asylum for the criminally insane, Scorsese’s twenty-first film offers a conceit that seems akin to the set-up of a horror video game. And from the beginning of the film it’s clear that something is very ‘off’ about the whole thing, even before the disturbing soundtrack selections from Penderecki, Ligeti and Ingram Marshall are introduced.
It’s that horrible feeling of something being wrong that grips the audience so compellingly and unrelentingly. Even just recalling the plot induces a slight queasiness. That Scorsese refuses to comfort us with a trademark lead character voice-over, or even his normal route for characterization is absolutely no coincidence. It’s a film that is designed to constantly prod at its viewer and encourage them to trust their instinct that something is amiss. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll know what that is. If you haven’t, it’s a thrilling (albeit upsetting) experience to have the plot unveiled for the first time.
Second viewings expose Scorsese’s mischief and, though you lose the suspense, you gain a full appreciation for how much of a technician the director is. Should we think of Scorsese as a ‘moviemaker’ or as an ‘auteur’. For me, Shutter Island is a film that reminds you exactly the category he belongs in and the dexterity required to put him there, even it has to drag you into the depths of psychological torment to do so. Elevated by a typically dedicated and persuasive lead turn from DiCaprio, a wonderful supporting cast and a fascinating plot, this is a film that stays with you in a murky, emotionally uncomfortable sense.
EveryFilmIWatch is multi-channel film review project run by Sebastian Cox, ScriptUp co-founder. Further reviews can be found on Instagram.