Dylan Alexander

The premise of Shutter Island is fairly easy to describe. Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck are on a ferry to Shutter Island, a maximum security prison for the criminally insane. They are there to investigate a mystery. Apparently a prisoner by the name of Rachael Solando escaped from her cell while it was locked from the outside, the window was barred, and there were several guards outside. How did she escaped? Did they find her? You’ll have to see the movie to find out.

Shutter Island’s presentation isn’t scary, but it does definitely creep you out. Chills ran down my spine as they entered the facility, knowing right away that this place wasn’t haunted by monsters or ghosts, or anything supernatural, but the very people running it. The visual style was very eerie and always left me with a sort of wide-eyed look on my face. The story is very gripping and keeps you sucked in the entire time. And the plot twist at the end is so mind-boggling, you’re sure to see it again just to understand it.

Shutter Island isn’t for everybody. You’d better be at least a bit smart because of how complex and diverse the story is. It’s a mystery, not a horror film. For any who believed that it might be the case, do not let the trailers mislead you. Shutter Island is smart, sometimes funny, and has an ending that makes you wonder just what did happen next, as if a sequel could come (though I’m sure one won’t). It’s well worth full price.

Tags: DiCaprio, film, great, island, Leonardo, movie, mystery, review, shutter