Shutter Island is Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s fourth feature film together, in which DiCaprio plays Teddy, a U.S. marshal sent to investigate an asylum on a remote island. Accompanying Teddy on this eerie journey is Mark Ruffalo’s Chuck. The two are looking into the disappearance of a patient, but Teddy seems more preoccupied with memories of his dark past that have suddenly resurfaced.
The island is a physically dark space, and the characters who populate its grounds are strange, severe people. As Teddy searches for the missing patient, he begins to uncover hidden truths about the island and its psychiatric facilities. Often alone, he feels like he can’t trust anyone, not even Chuck. This darkness and sense of isolation permeate the film through its unsettling soundtrack and shadowy cinematography. The framing, composition, and lighting of the shots often provide clues for the audience as to what Teddy’s place on the island really is.
Here are fifteen offputting stills from Shutter Island.
