Shutter Island Essay Example

Directed by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is an American mind bending thriller film based on Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel also named Shutter Island. Leonardo DiCaprio takes the lead role as a U.S Marshall named Teddy Daniels, who along with his partner, Chuck Aule (played by Mark Ruffalo), are investigating the mysterious disappearance of a patient at a highly guarded and isolated psychiatric penitentiary located on Shutter Island. Teddy Daniels runs about the island trying to uncover the mysteries of the Shutter Island psychiatric ward, only falling deeper into the conspiracy, all the while dealing with his past horrors and hallucinations that somehow help him in his investigation. As the plot unfolds, vivid scenes and music help reveal an eerie twist that adds to the suspense the story already creates. Throughout the film, the audience is taken on a mind trip, switching off from Teddy’s fantasies and delusions to reality. The cinematography and music both play important roles in this film along with the on point performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and fellow actors/actresses. Shutter Island is filled with great visuals that create situations which make you question your own suspicions over the questions brought up by the plot. The use of different lighting effects, camera angles, flashbacks and dream scenes as well as the bright and dull colors of various scenes throughout the film all make this film eye popping and brilliant. The use of lush, bright colors when in one of Teddy’s -the main character- fantasies and cold dull grey and greens when in reality puts the audience in the movie. These color schemes emphasize how much comfort Teddy receives when in his fantasies compared to the real world. The colors, lighting and even textures of the different scenes all work together to twisting of hallucinations and reality. Certain techniques in filming are used to make the audience feel uncomfortable throughout the movie such as using different camera angles and