Out of the fog

Shutter Island (2010)

Adapted from the novel of the same name this is the fourth collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio. Two US Marshals are called in to investigate the disappearance of a female patient from a prison for the criminally insane which is in a remote island.

This is a well executed psychological thriller that employs a number of familiar techniques but manages not to stretch into the realms of cliché. The ship coming out of the fog in the opening sequence is a particularly nice piece of film making and an important metaphor for what is happening to the protagonist. As you would expect from those involved there is a high level of acting and film making on show here but this film does fall short of greatness as it is limited by the genre conventions it is paying tribute to and a plot lacking ambiguity.

With out going too far into spoiler land I will say that I think the plot does tip it's hand too early and I think that better results could have been achieved by taking a less conclusive line. Having said that I do like the final scene and the open ended possibility of the protagonists final remarks.

Well worth watching 4/5