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It has been 13 years since Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island hit theaters, igniting intense debates about its intricate plot and enigmatic conclusion. Adapted from Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel, the film follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner (Mark Ruffalo) as they investigate the disappearance of a patient at Ashecliffe Hospital, a mental institution filled with secrets.
As the narrative unfolds, a pivotal revelation emerges: Teddy is actually Andrew Laeddis, an inmate at Ashecliffe who killed his mentally ill wife after she drowned their children. Struggling to cope with his past, Andrew has constructed an alternate identity, and the investigation is an elaborate attempt by the hospital staff to help him confront reality and avoid a lobotomy.
Shutter Island demands a second viewing to fully grasp the intricacies and foreshadowing embedded in the story. Despite the seemingly unpredictable twist, careful observation reveals that characters are subtly anticipating it from the outset. Here are some overlooked clues that may have escaped your notice during your initial viewing of Shutter Island.
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10 Shutter Island Clues You Probably Missed the First Time
Chuck Aule’s Inexperience with Guns
The subtle clue in Shutter Island, potentially overlooked by many viewers, is embedded in Chuck Aule’s introduction as a U.S. Marshal investigating Rachel Solando’s disappearance. A key hint to his true identity as a psychiatrist posing as a marshal is his unfamiliarity and struggle with removing his holster when he’s required to surrender his gun upon arriving at the island. This difficulty exposes his lack of experience with firearms, a detail inconsistent with his supposed role.
This initial clue becomes part of a series of hints throughout the film that suggest Chuck Aule is not genuinely a U.S. Marshal but rather a psychiatrist involved in the experiment. Another indicator is the behavior of the patients he interviews with Teddy, particularly their heightened nervousness when questioned about Dr. Lester Sheehan. This reaction makes sense because unbeknownst to Teddy, Dr. Sheehan is present during these interviews, adding to the complexity of Chuck’s dual identity.
The Guards’ Nervousness
Upon Teddy and Chuck’s arrival on the island, they are met by a group of guards who appear discontent with their presence, resonating deeply with DiCaprio’s character. The guards’ palpable unease suggests a hidden concern, and one of them explicitly conveys this to Teddy in their interactions.
Initially, one might assume that the guards’ anxiety revolves around concealing something from the officers or the mysterious disappearance of Rachel Solando. However, as Teddy’s true identity is revealed, the guards’ peculiar behavior takes on a new significance: their nervousness stems from the presence of the challenging patient Andrew, now at large on the island, posing a serious threat to both them and everyone else.
The Overly Weird Behavior of Ashecliffe Hospital’s Patients
The plot twist in Shutter Island not only serves as a revelation about the main character, Teddy, but also sheds light on the peculiar behavior of Ashecliffe Hospital’s patients towards him. From the moment the marshals arrive at the mental institute, the patients exhibit odd reactions, with some greeting Teddy with laughter and others showing discomfort. This behavior, initially suggesting a conspiracy, takes on new meaning when we learn the truth about Teddy. It becomes apparent that the patients’ reactions stem from recognizing one of their own in an unusual circumstance, implying possible involvement in the experiment that Teddy undergoes.
An Invisible Glass of Water and Plenty of Mistakes
In Shutter Island, much like the early hints about Chuck Aule’s true identity, the film subtly suggests that Teddy Daniels is an unreliable character. One notable example is a scene where Teddy interacts with Bridget Kearns during an interrogation. Kearns appears to drink from an invisible glass that materializes when she sets it down on the table. While this might initially seem like a continuity error, it actually serves to underscore Teddy’s distorted perception. This detail gains significance when considering Teddy’s aversion to water following the tragic drowning of his children.
The Law of 4
While examining the room of the missing woman in Shutter Island, Teddy Daniels discovers a crumpled note that poses the cryptic question, “The law of 4. Who is 67?” This enigmatic clue becomes the focal point of Teddy’s investigation, leading him to obsessively decipher the meaning and search for the 67th patient in the hospital.
As the narrative unfolds, it is eventually revealed that Teddy himself is the elusive 67th patient, and the “law of 4” refers to the anagram system employed in the role-playing experiment. A subtle but crucial moment occurs earlier in the film when a doctor expresses admiration for the “Law of Four” during a meeting, indicating that all the professionals at Ashecliffe are cognizant of the true nature of the institution and the ongoing experiments.
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The Incompetence of the Search Party
A significant source of suspicion among the audience regarding Ashecliffe Hospital revolves around the staff’s peculiar behavior concerning Rachel Solando’s purported disappearance. Teddy, the protagonist, becomes particularly intrigued upon arriving at the island as there is a lack of urgency about a potentially dangerous patient being on the loose. It seems as though her disappearance is oddly advantageous for the staff.
In various scenes of Shutter Island, we observe a search party that, instead of actively seeking Rachel, gives the impression of casually loitering. The revelation later in the movie clarifies this behavior—the search party members are not genuinely searching for Rachel because she never existed on the island. Their actions are part of a charade to allow the experiment to unfold as planned.
Teddy’s Dreams of Dolores
The nightmares featuring Teddy’s wife Dolores, portrayed by Michelle Williams, play a crucial role in unraveling the hidden plot of Shutter Island. These dreams provide early clues about Teddy’s dark truth. In one haunting sequence, Teddy confronts Dolores in an apartment consumed by ashes. As he embraces her, her abdomen begins to release water and blood, culminating in her transformation into ash and disappearance. This dream foreshadows the grim reality that Teddy shot Dolores in the abdomen after she drowned their children in the lake. Revisiting this scene post-revelation sheds light on the tragic events that transpired.
Ripping Off the Band-Aid
This subtle yet gratifying detail in Scorsese’s film becomes evident upon repeated viewings. Teddy Daniels, the protagonist, sports a band-aid above his left eyebrow from the outset, its significance remaining unclear. However, the band-aid persists until near the film’s conclusion.
Notably, Teddy discards the band-aid during a shower after learning from John Cawley that he arrived on the island alone. While it might be speculated that the band-aid simply came off during the shower, its absence in subsequent scenes carries a more profound implication: it symbolizes the unraveling of the protective illusions around Teddy, signifying his imminent return to reality.
The True Meaning of Fire and Water
One of the intriguing elements in the film serves as a significant clue for the plot twist. In Shutter Island, the protagonist’s interactions with water and fire carry profound symbolism in the narrative. Fire symbolizes the character’s alternate reality and his resistance to acknowledging his past; it manifests in specific scenes to highlight his delusions. Conversely, water represents the harsh reality he avoids confronting, persistently haunting him despite his attempts to escape, indicating his proximity to discovering his true identity.
Andrew Laeddis’ Patient File
At the start of Shutter Island, Teddy is deeply immersed in the investigation for Andrew Laeddis, showing frustration with others’ indifference. Yet, when presented with files confirming Laeddis’ presence, Teddy oddly appears disinterested. This behavior takes on new significance when considering Teddy’s true identity. Avoiding those documents might have been a way for him to delay confronting a reality he wished to avoid, allowing him to stay lost in his delusion a little longer. Explore these subtle hints further in our breakdown of Shutter Island’s ending by streaming it on Paramount+ and delve into the intricacies of the plot.
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