Which would be worse - to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?

Rating: 8/10 (18 July 2019)

When a patient goes missing from the mental institution, two U.S Marshals, Teddy Daniels and, Chuck Aule, arrive to investigate. With the very first moments, it is clear that there is something much more sinister going on in that institution. While their investigation seems to get stuck by the obstructions by the uncooperative staff, Teddy Daniels swirls deeper and deeper into the doubt what is real.
'Shutter Island' is kind of a movie that can have a bigger effect on you with the second viewing. The film is visually striking, all the actors' performances are nuanced near perfection, and the atmosphere is set in in the first second with ominous music. The story seems simple at first and the big twist can be seen coming long away. And there lie this movie's big brilliance - the details. There is a subtle twist inside the twist that we are seeing first, but it is the least important one. The story is not about a cop looking for a missing woman, it is about the man looking for himself. With first time a saw beautifully directed mystery thriller, but on the second time, I noticed all these subtle details that told another story. The story that was hidden under the main one and that story is much more complex. And in this sense 'Shutter Island' is very hard to talk (or write about) without giving out all the spoilers (this is something, I don't want to do). When you were shocked by the first time, then I promise you, the second time you discover something more and you will be even more thrilled.
'Shutter Island' is considered technically a masterful film, but it is not held in high regard as some other Scorsese pictures. And I can see why. I can say, that the first time I saw it, I was rather disappointed because of the obvious twist (that wasn't very obvious as I learned). Anyway, I'm starting to repeat myself, but what I want to say is, that the second viewing (even years later) can offer you a nice surprise, and you start to appreciate this film much more. Pay attention to the details and you witness one of the most masterful subtle psychological thrillers of all time.