On a repeat viewing, however, it's easier to see where plot is almost reverse-engineered from Theme in Scorsese's film. Most people, when they sit down to watch 'Shutter Island,' are just going to be focused on the superficial plot maneuverings.
You don't have to be Catholic to experience guilt, of course, but that's the perspective that Scorsese, the pre-seminary dropout, has brought to many of his films. 'Shutter Island' explores the psychological thriller through the lens of Catholic guilt. It was and is an atmospheric genre exercise, not unlike the one that Scorsese and his other go-to star, Robert De Niro, performed with their 1991 remake of 'Cape Fear.'
This film marked the fourth collaboration between director Martin Scorsese and his go-to leading man for the 21st century, Leonardo DiCaprio. People coming to 'Shutter Island' on streaming services or digital platforms in the 2020s will have their own range of emotions.
