Shutter Island, the 2010 thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the novel of the same name, and adapted for the big screen by Laeta Kalogridis is a treasure of a film. Watching this film in 2025, with mental health being taken more seriously than it was in 2010, tells a different tale than originally thought. With an amazing cast, amazing script and amazing scenary, this is arguably one of the best films ever made.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo play a U.S Marshal investigate a disappearance of a patient at a very remote psychiatric facility located on an island where the only way to get to the facility is via ferry. As the film goes on, the story becomes clearer and nothing, absolutely nothing, is as it seems. The rest of the cast, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams and more all play pivotal parts in this mysterious situation happening at a remote mental institution. 

Everything about the facility is....weird. How did a patient escape? How did a patient escape and can't be found anywhere on this remote island? Why is there a random lighthouse a bit out of the way on this island? These questions are answered, but as the film goes on, there are more questions that come to mind. Every single scene, every single line and its delivery is carefully done and purposeful in its existence in this film. Nothing is done accidentally, nothing is done half-assed, it's all thoroughly thought out and perfectly placed on the screen without giving away the film's epic ending.

Everyone knows Martin Scorsese's work, he is a legend in the film industry. But before this film, the name Laeta Kalogridis wasn't in many people's minds. Kalogridis, before this film, was responsible for Night Watch (2004), Alexander (2004) and Pathfinder (2007). None of these movies were exceptional hits like Shutter Island became, however, you can see the pattern of her work leading to Shutter Island. Night Watch is a Russian Supernatural thriller with very dark themes, Alexander is an American Drama that tells the story of Alexander the Great and how he came into power, including his thirst for power and how it cost many people their lives, and Pathfinder is an American Action film that cements Kalogridis' ability to write about war in various ways. Supernatural war in the 90s. Historical war in 287 A.D. A war amongst Vikings in the 80s. 

Shutter Island is a different type of war. A war of the mind within oneself. In her previous films, the wars and the battles were amongst men, supernatural beings. But in Shutter Island, the war is within one person and it's such a fascinating watch and such a fascinating film to talk about because different people take different things from different scenes and lines. If you have never seen this movie before, you need to watch it. If you have seen this movie before....watch it again!