Disappointment follows predictability

Rating: 2/10 (14 June 2010)

When I first saw the trailer for this film I have to admit I was excited, I thought that Hollywood might have gone back to the good old psychological thrillers that I have grown to love. The trailer gave the impression of a sense of dread and suspense that looked set to follow through the entire movie. The trailer also set the scene for a film with twist and turns and frights round every corner. The only fight I got from this film as just how terrible it really was, the film tells the tale of two Federal Marshals that go to the mysterious Shutter Island in search of an escaped mental patient. So far so good right? That's what I thought. As the film progresses that main character Teddy Daniels , played by Titanic star Leonardo DiCapiro, dives deeper into the dark history that surrounds the Island and goes in search of the truth and uncovers a dark and sinister plot. Now I don't know about you but as soon as they stepped foot onto a Insane Asylum I started to have my doubts about this film and had pretty much guessed the ending. But I thought that I would give Mr Scorsese a chance to, as more mysteries are reviled to us it becomes clearer that the film is going to end just how I thought. This isn't helped by the fact that we get repeated flash back of his gory past in the army and the fact that he keeps seeing his dead wife, does exactly strike you as a sane man. With the mention of the lighthouse that is the apparent venue for grizzly and nasty experiments was the final ail in the coffin for me with this film.
First off the horror, well to be frank there isn't any, besides from one jumpy moment the horror is basically non existent and it's a shame cause this film had such potential to be a frightening movie. I mean it had all the ingredients dark scary Island, dark hidden secrets and crazy people, the things that got me the most as I sat in the movie theatre waiting for the to be something jumping out at me but nothing. I know that jumping out of your seat isn't all that makes up a horror but at the lack of a plot it normally helps.
The storyline, or should I say what there is of it, is not a terrifying twisting and turning story of one man battle to find the truth. Its just bloody confusing and I don't mean in a good way sure I'm all up for films to make you think but not just completely and utterly lose you half way through only to give you and ending that you could have figured out with half the hassle. I mean just because the film has a weak ending doesn't mean you can completely try and lose the audience in the rest of it to make up for it. As for the flash backs and visions of his dead wife this only helps to add to the films predictable ending.
All in all I found this film a huge disappointment which is a shame cause I wanted so much to like this film I really did. On paper with the director and the basic storyline this could of made movie gold but I'm afraid to say is more likely to make the bargain bin.