Scorsese has once again brought a great film to the playing field!

Rating: 9/10 (19 February 2010)

First off, if you are a fan of Scorsese' previous films (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, The Departed), you need to know that Shutter Island is a whole new style for this director.
Shutter Island is a psychological thriller, starring Leonardo De Caprio as Teddy Daniels, that attacks our fears on an entire new level. The overall dark tone and bleak state of mind we are in builds and builds, never letting go through out the movies entirety. The film is thrilling, captivating, and most importantly, extremely entertaining. I was not once asking myself when the film was going to be over and found myself so engaged in the story that, at times, was unaware I was even watching a film, but that I was living it.
Some have complained that they are dissatisfied with the ending and saw it coming from miles away. Yes, you may think you know where it is going, that you anticipated the right turn when in arrived, but no one will be expecting the sudden left turn it makes in the films conclusion.
While Shutter Island was made by a true master of the film trade, one thing you will find unpleasantly delightful, is the director's ability to genuinely creep you out in several terrifying scenes. The film doesn't rely on loud bags in the silence (although a few do occur, and will make you jump) but more on dark imagery and even darker dialogue that never lets up and brings the tension to a painfully disturbing level. This one will not escape your thoughts so easily.
The only major flaw I found in the film was within the ending. Not to say it wasn't terrifying or original, but the mystery revealed, in my opinion, is one that has become quite overplayed and generic in recent years. That being said, Scorsese adds his usual twist and craft to it, dressing it up in an entirely new way.
I found Shutter Island to be a fantastic film and encourage everyone to go see it. Ol' Marty hasn't lost his touch as a truly talented film maker and seeing this film puts you in store for a great ride.