Martin Scorsese’s latest flick has him entering a new genre to tackle, a psychological thriller/drama. The trailer would have you believing this was a generic creepy movie, but with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese on board, I expect a damn fine cinema experience. After the movie was over, my mind was racing all over with disturbing images embedded while I was trying to get a nice sleep. No it’s not a scary movie, but it is an intense one.

Leonardo DiCaprio is Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal who travels to Shutter Island, a mental institution that’s isolated from everywhere, to investigate a missing patient’s case. Things get a turn for the worse when Teddy and his partner, Chuck (Mark Ruffalo), unravel a disturbing secret within the island, with no way out. It also doesn’t help Teddy for the fact that he sees his dead wife (Michelle Williams) in his visions.

I loved the fact that the story took place in the year 1954 because it set a more eerie historic mood. Leonardo’s performance in this is really powerful, along with Mark Ruffalo’s, who’s questioning why he’s not open to his own partner. The island itself is its own character, with each section of the island having its own story, especially in Ward C, where they keep the craziest of the crazies. Expect to see Rorschach make an appearance.

During Teddy Daniels’ investigation, he meets the workers who run the mental institution. Ben Kinglsey plays Dr. Cawley, the main doctor trying to help Teddy Daniels with his investigation, but there is something unpleasant about him, including all the people who help him run the island. Dr. Naehring (Max von Sydow) is the ex-Nazi doctor and Deputy Warden McPherson (John Carroll Lynch) just looks creepy, as he does in all of his other movies.

I’m glad to see Martin Scorsese with another emotional and intense movie under his belt. He knows how to create believable and weird characters. With all this praise, I’m sad to say that the music didn’t help.  Once you listen to the score when Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffolo are first being introduced to Shutter Island before they enter the main entrance, you’ll understand. Otherwise, this is a movie that I highly recommend you getting off your ass to see.

Grade: A+

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