It's tough to call any Leonardo DiCaprio movie forgotten or underrated, but "Shutter Island" just might fit the mold. It probably isn't helped by the fact that this Martin Scorsese film should be one of the biggest new additions to Paramount Plus this August. Yet I struggled to find it on Paramount's streaming service when searching for it on Google (I did ultimately find it, of course — it is my job).
For those who have seen it and are reading this, many of you might agree with me that the twist in this movie alone is reason to watch, and why, for me, this is still one of the more memorable movies Scorsese has ever made or that DiCaprio has ever starred in. It's no "The Wolf of Wall Street," but give me "Shutter Island" over "Kundun" or "The Revenant" any day.
If you haven't seen "Shutter Island," though, you might be wondering what the big deal is about this thriller. Well, spoiler alert, I'm not going to give away the movie's big twist in this article, which is up there with "The Sixth Sense" in terms of movie twists you can't unlearn. However, I am going to tell you why this movie is a must-watch — and maybe even watch a second time — now that it's on Paramount Plus.
What is 'Shutter Island' about?
"Shutter Island" stars Leonardo DiCaprio as U.S. Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels. He and his new partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), have arrived at Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane on Shutter Island in the Boston Harbor, run by psychiatrists Drs. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) and Naehring (Max von Sydow). They're there to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), a patient of the hospital who was institutionalized after drowning her three children.
Upon arrival, though, it's clear things are not as they seem. Cawley and Naehring are uncooperative with Teddy's investigation, and it's revealed that a Dr. Lester Sheehan disappeared from the island right after Solando was discovered missing.
As Teddy's investigation progresses, he starts experiencing intense migraines and flashbacks, and begins to vividly dream of his wife, Dolores (Michelle Williams). It's then revealed that his wife was killed in a fire set by arsonist Andrew Laeddis, who Teddy thinks is still in the facility on the island, and Teddy's reason for taking the Solando case.
'Shutter Island' is a satisfying watch that merits a second viewing
As "Shutter Island" progresses, so do the twists and turns in the story. Multiple people hospitalized at the island claim to know Teddy during his investigation, with one patient, George (Jackie Earle Haley), going as far as to warn the Marshal not to trust his new partner, Chuck.
This all builds to a stunning reveal that, again, I won't spoil in this article. But I will reveal that it's aided by the movie's incredible cast, as is most of the film. Between DiCaprio, Ruffalo, Kingsley, von Sydow and Williams, you have 21 Academy Award nominations for acting, and a few wins from those nominations.
That cast results in numerous performances in "Shutter Island" that will keep you engaged during the movie's 139 minutes, if, for some reason, the story does not.
But that story should keep you plenty engaged, and once you've watched all the twists, you might want to hit play again. It's a movie that rewards a second viewing, allowing you to not only spot things you may have missed the first time around, but also consider the story from the perspective of characters other than Teddy.
For the record, I'm not the only one to love this movie. While it's rated a meager 68% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes, plenty of prominent critics praised the film, including Roger Ebert, whose review also indicates that a second viewing might be worthwhile, and praises Scorsese's directing in particular.
So if you have some spare time, sit down, boot up Paramount Plus, and hit play on "Shutter Island." Then, when you're done, hit play again.
Stream "Shutter Island" now on Paramount Plus
Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.
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