Shutter Island [DVD]

 

 

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Shutter Island is one of the most well crafted psychological thrillers to come by since Silence Of The Lambs. And it is no coincidence both were brilliantly written novels. Shutter Island is adapted by a book written by Dennis Lehane (wrote gone baby, gone and mystic river). It is a book filled with twists and turns, that will leave the reader dizzy. And, that is what it's film counterpart does to the fullest. Martin Scorsese helms the director chair, in a movie where he is more free than any before. This is Scorsese at his most unrestrained.

Marty takes what he has learned from the great films of the past and puts it into his. The master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock's influence is everywhere you look in this film. And it is no wonder, considering Scorsese even showed one of his greatest works to the crew: Vertigo. And many of those ideas are present in Shutter Island; the cliff scenes scream Hitchcock. This is a film that creeps and crawls, and is filled with dark corners. And it is all heightened by the coming storm that looms over the island. This is classic film noir.

The story follows Teddy, a federal Marshall, and his partner Chuck (Played by DiCaprio and Ruffulo). They go to this mysterious island enveloped in fog to investigate an escape. From these opening scenes, Marty has set up a dark and creepy premise.

Almost the whole movie incorporates this story as Teddy desperately tries to find the truths he seeks. Teddy is shown as a scared man; a man of war and violence as portrayed in various flashbacks. These will go on to be increasingly important as the story progresses. We follow Teddy on his quest, through every dark corridor and perilous confrontations. Slowly, we are given pieces to the puzzle, but the audience does not even realize it. For we, like Teddy, are blind. For the moment at least. It is because of this that the thrilling conclusion will leave many blindsided. But, you see, that is where this thriller becomes something more. We as the audience are put in Teddy's shoes, and we feel all the things he feels. It is a complete assault on the senses, and it works beautifully.

This is a film you must watch carefully. That is another thing that sets this apart, it is a horror film that makes you actually think. In this day and age, I'm not surprised some found it terrible esp. after their brains have been turned to mush by these new gore filled horror films. Scorsese's ultimate goal here is to wake you up. And trust me, you probably wont like it.

This is also a film I would recommend seeing a second time. In fact, it is even better the second time. All those pieces of that puzzle you didn't catch the first time, you will the second. You see, we as the audience are first put in the shoes of Teddy. The second? Well, without giving too much away, lets just say you are put in someones else's shoes entirely during the second viewing.

Shutter Island. A film that will make you question your own sanity. A film that will leave you breathless. A film that has re-ignited the thriller genre. A film that will leave you, and the main character, searching for answers.

Hmm... interesting film. Firstly, it isn't scary although there are a couple of good `jumps'; it is more of a darkly psychological mystery. Without giving too much away, it is also annoyingly reminiscent of another film in the placing of `clues' (a bit like the `red' thing in Sixth Sense) and the little deliberate continuity slips are a dead give-away. We guessed what was going on after the first 35 minutes, but the film is so well crafted and artfully directed that even after we had guessed, we were still not entirely sure that we were right until near the very end.

The atmosphere is great; lots of film-noir camera angles, suitably creepy setting and excellently acted. It is definitely a film to re-watch (again, like Sixth Sense) as I'm sure we will continue to spot the more subtle clues we missed on the first viewing. All-in-all, an unusual, interesting, strange and entertaining film.

I watched this in the cinema not expecting much, But I was so pleasantly surprised, by the whole film. It sucked me in from the very beginning all the way to the end.

The acting was amazing, as well as the storyline. I cant praise this film enough, In my personal opinion, its one of decaprio's best.

Im not a big fan of twists in films, but this one I liked alot. It doesnt leave you disapointed at all.

You will enjoy Im sure.

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2.0 out of 5 stars bad
seen movies like this before which ruined it I think bad ending. should of changed it could of been a good one.Disappointed!

Published 2 days ago by chris

3.0 out of 5 stars So so, but good twist at the end
My title sort of sums up this film in my opinion. The twist is good at the end but highlights how silly the preceding story is. Read more

Published 23 days ago by Jonathan

5.0 out of 5 stars Shutter Island
Amazing film, great twist at the end, didnt expect it. Love films like this that keep you on the edge of your seat till right at the end, then it all gets explained. Loved it!!

Published 24 days ago by Chris_x

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good film
I really enjoyed this film, I knew nothing about before I watched it and was kept interested all the way through, certainly had a surprise at the end.

Published 1 month ago by Ms. Madeline Hackett

3.0 out of 5 stars A good film
For me, the main selling point of Shutter Island was that it was directed by Martin Scoresese, who is responsible for some of the best pieces of cinema ever made. Read more

Published 2 months ago by tigerthedog

3.0 out of 5 stars A Difficult One
Usually I either like a film, which is true for most of the ones I watch, or I really dislike it. I know when I dislike a film, I stop watching it before it finishes. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Mike

5.0 out of 5 stars Good movie
I really enjoyed this movie even though it was not the usual Di Caprio type movie.
It kept you gripped from the start as you knew something was wrong but just could not... Read more

Published 3 months ago by MODO

5.0 out of 5 stars Its good and the fact its predictable doesn't matter.
I really enjoyed the film. I thought DiCaprio was Brilliant as to was Ben Kingsley. So you have one tick for the acting.
O.k. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Samuel

1.0 out of 5 stars More like Shut-eye Island!
Ponderous direction, wooden acting, laboured and over the top set-pieces and a predictable plot, spun out at seemingly interminable length. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Pozoscarbon

5.0 out of 5 stars An intense, well-crafted psychological thriller
I don't make a habit of watching Leonardo DiCaprio films, but the premise of Shutter Island intrigued me. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Daniel Jolley

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