Shutter Island
World War II soldier-turned-U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by troubling visions and a mysterious doctor.
What critics thought
Scorsese's pulpy asylum thriller divided critics sharply on release — some found it a masterclass in dread and atmosphere, others thought its elaborate machinery never produced genuine emotional stakes. Audiences were similarly cool at the time, yet the film has steadily built a devoted following that contemporary critics largely missed, a gap that has become its defining story.
“requires multiple viewings to be fully realized as a work of art. Its process is more important than its story, its structure more important than the almost perfunctory plot twists it perpetrates. It's a thriller, a crime story and a tortured psychological parable about collective guilt.”
John Anderson·The Wall Street Journal
“The movie is about: atmosphere, ominous portents, the erosion of Teddy's confidence and even his identity. It's all done with flawless directorial command. Scorsese has fear to evoke, and he does it with many notes.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“an aesthetically and at times intellectually exciting puzzle, but it's never emotionally involving”
Dana Stevens·Slate
“Something TERRIBLE is afoot. Sadly, that something turns out to be the movie itself.”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
Accolades
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- mild
- Profanity
- moderate
- Substances
- moderate
- Intensity
- severe
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Martin ScorseseDirector
Leonardo DiCaprioTeddy Daniels
Mark RuffaloChuck Aule
Ben KingsleyDr. Cawley
Max von SydowDr. Naehring
Michelle WilliamsDolores
Emily MortimerRachel 1
Patricia ClarksonRachel 2
Jackie Earle HaleyGeorge Noyce
Ted LevineWarden
John Carroll LynchDeputy Warden McPherson
Elias KoteasLaeddis
Robin BartlettBridget Kearns
Laeta KalogridisWriter
Dennis LehaneWriter
Robert RichardsonCinematographyShutter Island
World War II soldier-turned-U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels investigates the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane, but his efforts are compromised by troubling visions and a mysterious doctor.
What critics thought
Scorsese's pulpy asylum thriller divided critics sharply on release — some found it a masterclass in dread and atmosphere, others thought its elaborate machinery never produced genuine emotional stakes. Audiences were similarly cool at the time, yet the film has steadily built a devoted following that contemporary critics largely missed, a gap that has become its defining story.
“requires multiple viewings to be fully realized as a work of art. Its process is more important than its story, its structure more important than the almost perfunctory plot twists it perpetrates. It's a thriller, a crime story and a tortured psychological parable about collective guilt.”
John Anderson·The Wall Street Journal
“The movie is about: atmosphere, ominous portents, the erosion of Teddy's confidence and even his identity. It's all done with flawless directorial command. Scorsese has fear to evoke, and he does it with many notes.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“an aesthetically and at times intellectually exciting puzzle, but it's never emotionally involving”
Dana Stevens·Slate
“Something TERRIBLE is afoot. Sadly, that something turns out to be the movie itself.”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
Accolades
Parents guide
- Violence
- severe
- Sex
- mild
- Profanity
- moderate
- Substances
- moderate
- Intensity
- severe
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Martin ScorseseDirectorLeonardo DiCaprioTeddy DanielsMark RuffaloChuck AuleBen KingsleyDr. CawleyMax von SydowDr. NaehringMichelle WilliamsDoloresEmily MortimerRachel 1Patricia ClarksonRachel 2Jackie Earle HaleyGeorge NoyceTed LevineWardenJohn Carroll LynchDeputy Warden McPhersonElias KoteasLaeddisRobin BartlettBridget KearnsLaeta KalogridisWriterDennis LehaneWriterRobert RichardsonCinematography