-No spoilers-
Leonardo Dicaprio plays a U.S. Marshal investigating the disappearance of a murderer at a prison for the criminally insane.
It’s been quite a while since I have been kept on the edge of my seat in a movie theater. I do recall giving Avatar a 9/10 just a few days ago but that high score does include at least two points for the never before seen visual effects. Shutter Island thankfully does not require the wearing of uncomfortable and eye straining 3D glasses. It relies only on a great story and the masterful hand of Martin Scorsese behind the camera.
While Avatar can, unfortunately, be adequately described by the one word “awesome” Shutter Island requires a bit more vocabulary to do it justice.
I guess you would call it a dramatic thriller mainly. It sucks you into the story right away and you spend the whole film sharing the claustrophobic atmosphere of the island with the two marshals investigating the escaped murderer. There are some frightening scenes but this is in no way a cheap horror flick. Shutter Island is dripping in grade A eeriness. The suspense, tension and delightfully creepy mood are very genuine and made me feel like a kid again. That is to say that I found myself being completely immersed in the experience. It was able to break through my grown up cynicism and give me a movie watching experience that I haven’t had for a long long time. It accomplished all of this without the use of a single black cat jumping out and screeching for no apparent reason. (It almost deserves an extra star just for that.)
I don't want to say too much more about the story, just that is a great one and is very well told. This is not a feel good heart warmer to be sure. Actually I usually steer well clear of the scary creepy stuff these days because most of it is cliche ridden cheap trick using garbage full of over exaggerated stereotypes. (The Mist)
Shutter Island is a rare gem among modern Hollywood lameness. Plus it's awesome.
A rock solid 9/10
Don’t read about it, don’t ask about it, just see it.
3 comments:
Thanks for the recommendation Lorin. I had not heard of this film but will definitely check it out. You are one of the reviewers I trust most.
- C
So....I had seen the commercials, and thought maybe this was too scary for me. Is that going to be the case, or is it scary like The Sixth Sense, which was scary, but with no lasting effects? I don't mind suspense if the story sorts it all out in the end. Just don't want to watch demons and ghosts.
Chad - Thanks for your vote of confidence. I hope you like it.
Marlan - I don't think you should worry about it being too scary. It's not a horror movie at all and it shouldn't give anyone nightmares.
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