"Shutter Island" Not Just Your Average Psychological Thriller

"Shutter Island" brings Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio together for the fourth time since "The Departed" finally scored Scorsese his long overdue Best Director Oscar. And the duo does not disappoint. The film's intricate plot weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue that'll engage you long after the credits roll.

Through the eyes of US Marshal Teddy Daniels, masterfully portrayed by DiCaprio, the audience is thrust into a world of insanity and paranoia as soon as the film starts. No one is who they say they are and everyone has something to hide. Scorsese successfully sustains a pulse-pounding tension throughout, the way any good thriller should.

But what really sets it apart from your run-of-the-mill mystery is that it is so well layered. It is genre-bending cinema at its best. The viewer is completely enveloped into the period and into the mind of a World War II veteran and all that comes with it. He is trying not only to solve a mystery, but to uncover the truth about this mysterious island, and ultimately, seeking redemption for his past.

All these intricate moving parts, like cogs in a well-oiled machine, churn on until we get what psychologists call the breakthrough. In this moment, DiCaprio, with the audience in tow, makes a discovery so large that it changes absolutely everything. It forces you to re-evaluate everything you've been watching with a new set of eyes. And while plot twists are a cinematic staple in great and mediocre movies alike, "Shutter Island" manages to reinvent it. Upon second viewing, it is a completely different film. The originally suspenseful tone is quite muted and much more somber the second time around.

By the same token, what appears to be a flat and forgettable performance by Mark Ruffalo reveals itself to be by design. Similarly, other big names like Ben Kingsley and Michelle Williams are overshadowed by the stellar cast of minor characters. By and large, the quirky psychiatric patients and nurses drive the plot and maintain the mood much more effectively than the major players. But that's a strength of the film in that it's refreshing to see.

When all is said and done, you're left with more questions than answers. And the only thing you know for sure is that the scariest place in the world is your mind.