Director Martin Scorsese and Actor Leonardo DiCaprio team up again for a fourth time to showcase the psychological thriller Shutter Island. The film faced much anticipation from fans of the Scorcese-DiCaprio duo in hopes that it would delight them as much as previous films the two created such as: Gangs of New York, The Aviator and The Departed. This high anticipation was evident when Shutter Island came in first at the box office the day it came out with a grossing of approximately fourteen million. 

         Set in the 1950’s and off the coast of Boston, Shutter depicts the story Federal marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) with his partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) as they investigate the disappearance of a patient from a mental hospital for the criminally insane. As the investigation takes way Daniels discovers that the staff and hospital director Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley) are covering up information about the escape of the patient. As Daniels starts to uncover more clues his stress builds and he suffers migraines and nightmares about his wife who was killed in a fire. His stress turns to paranoia when a violent storm traps him on the island and he figures out that Cawley doesn’t plan on ever letting him leave.

     Just like how the stress of the investigation affects Teddy Daniels, Di Caprio is burdened by carrying the bulk of the movie in his lead role as he portrays the federal marshals growingly antic disposition. However this burden is met head on by his skillful acting and mastery of emotions which is evident in each scene. Director Martin Scorsese utilizes his cinematic finesse with his creative camera angles and directing, all of which create the film’s dark and disconcerting ambience while slipping in a philosophical undertone that addresses the subject of sanity.