A Thrilling, Suspenseful and Mystifying Tale

Rating: 10/10 (1 August 2012)

One probably wouldn't associate Martin Scorsese with a psychological thriller, but this film was deftly handled by the master director.
The film's premise is relatively simple: two United States Marshals are summoned to a remote mental institution to find an escaped patient. However nothing is as it seems at Ashcliffe (the name of the hospital) once the Marshals begin their investigation and fear their sanity is fading away. There are many twists and turns as the film delves into the tortured psyche of anti-hero, Edward "Teddy" Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio). The climax is truly dramatic and brings the film's action full circle, but I will not reveal the surprise.
Leonardo DiCaprio aptly portrays the former alcoholic Teddy Daniels, a man whose dark past continuously haunts him throughout the film; particularly the tragic death of his wife (Michelle Williams) which is kept secret for the majority of the film's run-time until the end of the film. DiCaprio brings out the vulnerability needed for the part, but also has a strong reserve in his actions.
DiCaprio's chemistry with co-star, Mark Ruffalo who plays Daniels's partner Chuck Aule, provides the profound revelations that drive the narrative forward. Both actors play off each other in the fashion of a cat and mouse game as their pasts remain obscure until Teddy eventually tells some secrets to Chuck that spell the former's downfall.
The film's supporting cast of Michelle Williams as DiCaprio's wife, Ben Kingsley as Dr. Cawley and Max von Sydow as the asylum head, all add mounting suspense as their motives. Williams in particular plays a deceased character and remains a haunting presence as she is the driving force behind DiCaprio's Teddy's fractured mind; telling him to avenge her death. Kingsley and von Sydow stay subtle in their roles as psychiatrists; their motives remaining murky until the final act of the film.
If you have a taste for mind games, give this a viewing cause you'll want to see it again.