When it comes to suspense and horror films, I’m not one that scares easily. Sure, I’ll jump from time to time when some creeper (or animal or monster—you get the idea) makes a sudden movement at the exact same moment the soundtrack climaxes.
But really, that’s just a cheap shot filmmakers take to get the viewer’s heart pounding. So when a movie genuinely freaks me out to the point that I run from the streetcar to the front door of my apartment building in order to avoid being in the unknown darkness, I’m pretty impressed.
Shutter Island is of that variety. Based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, the film is nothing short of an incredible mind trip. It’s one of those movies that stays with you long after you’ve watched it, making you work out things in your head in order to make sense of the thing. And there’s some irony in that, considering that the film is all about the mind and insanity.
Leonardo DiCaprio is U.S. Federal Marshall Teddy Daniels. Accompanied by his new partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo), Daniels is off to Shutter Island, a remote community for the criminally insane off the coast of Massachusetts, to investigate the disappearance of a patient. With plenty of shady characters and no clear answers from anyone in the investigation, it becomes clear early on that things are not as they seem.
DiCaprio is brilliant as Daniels. Bitter from losing his wife and suffering from flashbacks of his service in World War II, he’s often angry and has violent tendencies. His character is someone you want to trust, though is slightly reminiscent of the sleaze-ball he played in Revolutionary Road (maybe it’s the New England accent). He’s believable and—although he doesn’t always make the best choices—he’s ultimately likeable. While watching the film, I found myself wanting him to succeed, and as danger closed in—both from those surrounding him and the environment—my heart raced as I wished for him to escape unscathed.
And he does, though it often seems unrealistic. In fact, the entire plot is pretty unreal, flowing along like an elaborate conspiracy theory. And yet it’s done well, oftentimes feeling very Alfred Hitchcock-esque, with the clever twists as the story develops.
Even the intense music reminds me of something straight out of a Hitchcock film. It is often intense, which helps to set the tone of the film, but is perhaps a little overkill at times—particularly in the opening scene, when nothing has really happened yet. The film opens with an intense orchestra score, but at this point, since the audience has no idea what is happening yet, it’s a little out of place. Let’s be honest, I found myself wanting to laugh because it seemed like they were trying to make it more dramatic than it actually was.
That’s not the only time I found myself giggling, but, unlike some of the films I’ve seen lately (read: Book of Eli and Legion), it’s pretty clear that parts of it are actually supposed to be funny. DiCaprio gives some clever one-liners, and so does Sir Ben Kingsley (who, by the way, gives a brilliant portrayal of Dr. Cawley, the creepy and sophisticated lead psychiatrist on the island).
Ultimately, the film—though it has its flaws—is a refreshing change from all of the ridiculous religious flicks that have been coming out lately. It’s a psychological thriller that will keep you entertained and is well worth the money to see it in theaters. And even then, you’ll probably want to see it again when it comes to DVD, because it’s definitely one of those you’ll need to watch a few times to make sense of.