A Labyrinth of Fear – Shutter Island

Before I start, let me just ask you one question: Are you a sane person? Or do you think you’re sane?

I see you smirking away but I’m not. How do we know if insanity has crawled into the depths of our brains? Who knows, maybe the people we call ‘family’ now are actually a bunch of doctors and nurses examining our progress?

This is getting morbid, isn’t it?

But these were the exact questions Shutter Island made me ponder upon. Martin Scorsese’s latest is a gleefully noir piece of art, very reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s helming style. Adapted from a 2003 Dennis Lehane novel of the same name, it features an all-star cast, with the very handsome Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo at the apex.

DiCaprio plays Ted Daniels, a US Marshall who has been assigned to a case on Shutter Island, which is off Boston’s shore. With him goes Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo in a career-defining role), a new assistant whom Ted has never seen or spoken to before.

Shutter Island is home to Ashecliffe Hospital, a mental institution for the criminally insane. The Marshalls are there to investigate the disappearance of an inmate, named Rachel Solando. The only mode of transport to Shutter Island is by ferry and ferries are controlled by the authorities on the island itself.

Scared already? Of course not, right?

Ted Daniels, as it is slowly revealed, has quite a dark past… from his time as a G.I. in Dachau, witnessing the deaths of many innocents, to the death of his wife (Michelle Williams) whom he loved with all his heart… all revealed through Daniels’ dreams and visions.

It comes to a point where the dreams and reality seem to overlap, and you’re not quite sure what to believe and if insanity has caught up with you.

Leonardo DiCaprio does an epic job playing the disturbed US Marshall with black history. Full of emotion, anger, love, hatred and everything in between, his portrayal of Edward ‘Teddy’ Daniels was truly mind-blowing and unforgettable.

Equally good in his portrayal of Chuck Aule, is Mark Ruffalo who finally breaks away from his romantic-comedy mould and shines in his mysterious role of DiCaprio’s new assistant.

I cannot say much about Shutter Island without giving the story away, and this is one that definitely deserves a watch or two, or three!. The supporting character, played by a brilliant Ben Kingsley only adds to the built tension of the storyline and was of equal importance as any other role.

Michelle Williams, the late Heath Ledger’s ex-wife, was exquisite, saddening and horrifying all at once. After watching the movie… I realised in this movie, she is dead, but her husband (DiCaprio) is still alive, and still yearns for her… but in real life, she is alive, and Heath is gone. I wonder if it was a painful character for her to play… I can only imagine the sadness and grief she went through to portray her role.

Shutter Island may be formulaic to some, or might remind you of The Sixth Sense or Memento. For me it was a whole new experience, a labyrinth of mind-boggling facts, a whirlpool of reality, illusions and insanity.

After you watch the movie, perhaps, like me, you will question your sanity.

Now, maybe, you’re scared.