Chilling Thriller, distinct with Scorcese-DiCaprio combination

Rating: 8/10 (5 March 2010)

As the U.S. Marshals depart from Boston Harbor towards the isolated island that houses the Ashecliffe hospital for the criminally insane, the background music of the vessel's horns, the eerie mist and the uneasy countenance on them confirms that Martin Scorcese is going to squirm our thrill seeking minds....
Author Dennis Lehane, whose notable works include Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone, provides the source for Scorcese's 4th and latest venture with Hollywood's finest – Leonardo Dicaprio. Shutter Island is a mind-bending, complex and multisided thriller that toys with your inquisitive side before revealing its dark form. U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) along with his new partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) are heading for the island to investigate the disappearance of a dangerous patient named Rachel Solando from Ashecliffe, aided by Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley). They are in a time when lobotomy surgery, inhuman drug experiments, mind-control conspiracies, the threat from the Hydrogen bomb and the after- effects of world war II have become the cause for insanity among several. Their investigation through interviews of other patients is a tiring psychological exercise that divulges little truth while the autocratic approach of Dr. Naehring(Max Von Sydow) restricts access to vital information. Frustrated and torn in disbelief, Daniels confronts the doctors in a futile stand against the authority on the island asylum. Teddy's apprehensions about the island's horrifying mysteries lead him to surprises that arise after the devastating hurricane shatters the island's structured order. The ensuing chaos is where he finds strands of truth for his convictions but in this quest, do things appear as they are or is he beguiled by the Hospital's secrets?
Leonardo Dicaprio's renews his status of being the best in the business with Shutter Island. Playing Teddy Daniels required him to portray multiple characteristics that changed with the circumstances in the story. His keen understanding of the role and submersion into the director's vision enabled him to deliver such a stellar performance. Mark Ruffalo is commendable as Chuck while Ben Kingsley delivers the right amount of composure that looks convincing as a Doctor of the criminally insane patients. Watch them all together in the lighthouse where the truth is revealed through some very powerful performances. The rest of the cast that played Dolores, Rachel(s), George Noyce and Naehring leave quite an impact that blends with the film's turbulent theme of misdirection and evil.
Shutter Island is a chilling thriller. The surprises keep coming and even if one has read the book or knows its suspense, Scorcese's direction can easily hold you to your seats with a great screenplay by Kalogridis. The cinematography brilliantly captures the essence of 1954 while portraying nature's wrath on the island during the hurricane. This is one of the rare adaptations of a novel that is executed page-by-page with the same depiction of every character, building, structure, plant, color, storm, cave and cliff that was visualized by the reader. To that, Scorcese adds his distinct style in Teddy's recurring flashbacks during the war and his last moments with his wife. Scorcese's display of blood looks artistic compared to the screen splattering in Tarantino's movies. Certainly there is a reason why the 40 film old director has a Golden eye behind his black frames.

8.508 on a scale of 1-10.