Martin Scorsese’s only horror movie to date, the 1991 Cape Fear remake, was one of his least satisfying directorial outings. Although Robert De Niro brought a dark charm to the movie as Max Cady, Scorsese’s work felt tenuous and unsure of the genre, and the whole film rolled off the rails and exploded into a shrill, overblown mess. With Shutter Island, Scorsese—with 20 amazing years of experience behind him—has crafted a much more assured and creepy horror movie.
Leonardo DiCaprio (with a thick Boston accent and a bulldoggish tenacity) plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal in the 1950s investigating the disappearance of a mental patient from an institution on a small, remote Massachusetts island. Teamed with a new partner (Mark Ruffalo, gregariously shrugging his way through the sidekick role), Daniels must uncover the secrets of Shutter Island even as the staff of the mental hospital (led by Ben Kingsley, riffing on a classic evil-doctor shtick complete with mind-numbing expository dumps) try to confound him.
Between Scorsese’s impeccable sense of timing, the painterly cinematography of Robert Richardson, and Robbie Robertson’s insanely florid score, things get very tense very quickly (a scene involving matches, a dark cell, and a disfigured Jackie Earle Haley is a skin-crawling delight). Daniels is plagued by flashbacks to his World War II experiences—he was one of the liberators of Dachau—and gorgeous, malevolent dream sequences, and he begins to uncover some terrifying truths about the institution.
Shutter Island‘s great failing, though, comes in the worst possible place: its climactic scene. Thick with exposition and more than a few cinematic clichés, the scene chokes and thuds and leaves the viewer wondering about the worthiness of the whole endeavor. That the film recovers from this spill with a brilliant coda only partway cleans up the awful mess. It’s not a perfect horror film, but Scorsese is getting closer; maybe we’ll finally get his masterpiece of terror in 2030. 
If you thought the directing in Scorsese’s Cape Fear was “unsatisfying”, I’d say you were the one unsure of the genre, you self-important, condescending blowhard! Yeah, Scorsese really dropped the ball on that Cape Fear fiasco, huh? Gimme a break… There’s no way Shutter Island is a better horror movie than Cape Fear!
That movie was directed masterfully. Everyone I know was on the edge of their seat and completely horrified! DeNiro was a monster! The fact that it doesn’t fit the horror genre in a cliche way is what makes it stand apart as great. You can clearly see his signature style on many shots and perspectives and you can even detect a hint of him borrowing from Satyajit Ray. Not good enough for ya, huh?
Martin Scorsese directed the shit out of that movie which is exactly what should be beaten out of you for missing the mark so badly with your “review”.
I can imagine a lot of people are going to go see Shutter Island now because they want to make up their own mind about art and don’t need it spoon fed to them by the douchebag from The Stranger…
@1 – um, are you another Still Standing fan? His review seemed positive to me. Saying something is Scorcese’s least satisfying _______ is still a compliment compared to the majority of films out there.
@ T-Bone smoker
I don’t watch sitcoms, so save your passive-aggressive prejudice against Italians. That wasn’t even funny or witty. Couldn’t even come up with Jersey Shore to roast me with, huh?
Plus, they don’t call me Fat Tony cuz I’m fat and stupid, it’s cuz I’ve got your Fat Tony right here…
He didn’t just say it was his least satisfying. He said the whole movie was a mess. Plus, it’s more of a suspense thriller than a horror movie in the first place. It was just a comparison that didn’t need to be made because it was STUPID.
Just write a good review instead of jerking off with your keyboard and people won’t challenge you so harshly. I call bullshit when I read it and this guy’s writing is starting to smell like it…
Yeah, I’m sorry, but Shutter Island was dull and predictable. Watch even a small number of movies, read a few books, and you can call the ending before you even walk into the theater. Lord knows I did. The cinematography was great, acting was decent. The score is as overwrought as your average soap opera scene. But the story takes at least half again as long as it needs to reach a conclusion any idiot could guess. I went into the theater with high hopes, and left very disappointed.
Fat Tony’s first comment is right on. Cape Fear is a much better movie with much better acting…not to say Shutter Island sucks, but its just not as good. I mean, why is Dicaprio considered such a star now? He’s just a talented child actor/almost teen heart throb that grew up into a mediocre star.
How old were you when Cape Fear came out and when did you last see it Paul? It’s a creepy crawly performance by DeNiro and honestly everyone else in the movie-even Nolte–is very good. It does not turn into a mess–such as SI–and its much more smartly written and believable.
Cape Fear–both the original and the remake–are far superior films. Paul needs to stick with comics and role-playing game reviews and leave the film criticism to adults who’s experience and viewing far outlast his, which amounts to a minor expertise.
I love it when people talk shit about my movie reviews before they see the movie I’m reviewing. Here we go, Fat Tony: Re-watch Cape Fear, go see Shutter Island, and then come back here and we’ll talk.
Also: With his “Still Standing” reference, T-Bone is talking about a band that has been having a long comment war with me over on Line Out, not a racist Italian sitcom or whatever you think he’s talking about. You’re motherfucking hilarious. But I bet you might like Still Standing; give them a try!
I never saw Cape Fear, but no way Shutter Island could be better. I walked out 20 minutes into that movie, it was excrutiating. Terrible acting from amazing actors and a wooden, predictable plot. The heavy handed “something bad is about to happen” music was obnoxious as well.
Mom @5: When did you figure out how to work the internet? Sorry I didn’t call you this weekend!
I last watched Cape Fear about six months ago. I love the movie, but the ending was ridiculous. The ending of Shutter Island is ridiculous, too, but it’s a more assured movie. I think it’s interesting that Scorsese is so nervous around horror movies, and that’s why that aspect is the jumping-off-point for my review.
Yet to see the movie, but read the book. The ending of the novel was unsatisfying, so it doesn’t surprise me that the movie is the same way.
I don’t know, Fat Tony. I think “Cape Fear” was pretty fucking weak. I fucking love Scorcese and most of his fucking movies (even his fucking art fag experiment, “After Hours”) but fucking “Cape Fear” was like some shit Michael Mann couldn’t bother to fucking finish, man. Started out well but fucking lost the plot. Then — Hey! It’s the 90s! — and who gives a fucking shit, know what I fucking mean?
A friend of mine was just talking about this book. If the film ends the same way… ugh. I’m sure it’s directed better than Boxing Helena, at least.
But Paul, does it have zombies?
More like “Boring, Sucks Dick AND Balls Island.”
It will ruin your day with its awfulness.
Paul’s arguments are weak. This movie review is typical of his in that they usually demonstrate a lack of film knowledge, critique, and what people really like. SI was lame, overwrought, and a waste of $10/2.5 hours. I am sad I saw it, but with my date it was an argument between that and the Wolfman. We watched Cape Fear last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, its a tad dated but a taut thriller with a well-performing cast and stormy climax–and guess what? no SFX–but that seems a requirement for Paul and his legion of 14 year old springroll-eating fanboys.
I know the Stranger’s writers do a lot of crossover, but for such a big movie from a noted director the job should be handed to a more seasoned reviewer/writer. It’s a bummer when i see the lousy/lame movie/play/showing/party and then then read a stranger review praising its virtues or making a wild comparision.
Paul’s assertion that Scorsese is nervous about horror movies is misguided, the man does one or two for the studios and then one for himself. I don’t think Scorsese is nervous about anything really…unlike yourself. Stick with books!
I saw Shutter Island, and I don’t think it can be classified as horror. There were no scares, no oh-no-what-is-behind-that-door moments, no relentless psychopath. I’d put it in the same category as Oldboy or A History of Violence – psychological thriller. One with a moody atmosphere, to be sure, but I think horror is a stretch.
I’m on the fence with this one. The visuals were stunning, but the story itself is a bit of a dud.
man shutter island sucked. the production and performances etc were solid overall, but the story was weak every step of the way. i hoped the ending would redeem itself (and actually, as it unfolded it got worse and worse. the flashback to the family scene? FUCK that was terrible) — maybe if he was [SPOILERS!!!!!11!] captured by the nazis and experimented on and that’s what was happening, it could have been cool.
my fave review so far was via rotten tomatoes, “scorsese channels his inner m. night shyamalan.”
@11 – ha! boxing helena – true!
and thanks for reminding me about this, now i’m all pissed off and want to drink to forget again.
Shutter Island was boring and predictable, with a lot of bad acting (“Look at me – I’m CRAZYYY!”) It doesn’t take much to figure out the whole story in the first 5 minutes (Leo’s bandaid was a dead giveaway.) Scorsese has jumped on the “switcheroo ending” bandwagon. Christopher Nolan’s Memento was much more original.
My bad on the Still Standing reference. It’s no wonder I haven’t heard of them, seeing as how I listen to actual rock music and everything. I was wondering what the hell he meant, cuz that sitcom was the only thing I’ve ever heard of called that. Whatever… too much coffee.
I’ll go see Shutter Island after I go see Alice In Wonderland in 3D on shrooms with my girlfriend, ok? I’ve got priorities, man! Then maybe we can politely debate, cool? But I warn you, little man, you don’t come between an Italian and his Scorsese movies! Even though it seems the verdict is in…
Fuggedabahdit…
Wish I was Fat Tony’s girlfriend… he sounds kinda cool and sexy!
“springroll-eating fanboys”
That from that eating contest Paul won?
No matter what the origin, it’s the best insult I’ve seen in ages, and I’m aware of all internet traditions.
God, you eat 23 spring rolls in 2 minutes and suddenly you’re a stereotype.
I thought it was a fun movie, very prettily done… even if they applied the foreshadowing (or whatever) with a sledgehammer.
—Overdone and rather routine Stephen King
wannabe. Come to think of it -Stephen King’s
overdone and routine himself.
I go home to Bar Rafaeli every night and I’m laughing all the way to the bank, bitches!