About Shutter Island
Shutter Island is a psychological gut-punch disguised as a detective mystery, following U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels as he investigates a vanished patient at a storm-lashed asylum that feels engineered to mess with his sanity. But the noir bravado cracks when the island reveals its real trick: Teddy is actually Andrew Laeddis, a patient drowning in guilt after killing his wife for murdering their children, and the entire investigation is a therapeutic roleplay to shock him back to reality. When faced with the truth, he chooses oblivion over self-recognition, walking willingly toward a lobotomy rather than living with the monster he believes he is. It’s a bleak, brilliant mic drop of a twist.
During a recent re-watch, I started to think of other movies like Shutter Island. Below you’ll find a list of other psychological thrillers that have a similar vibe. Let me know on social media which one is your favorite.
1. The Machinist (2004)
Written by Scott Kosar and directed by Brad Anderson, The Machinist stars Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, and Michael Ironside. It was released in the year 2004.
The Machinist is a dark psychological drama featuring a machinist who is suffering from guilt and paranoid delusions because he hasn’t been able to sleep for an entire year. Fun fact: this is the film in which people started to speculate and worry about Christian Bale’s health as he lost 28 kilos (62 pounds) in order to look the part for the film. I remember loaning the DVD of the Machinist to an old room mate who swiftly returned it after watching with a note attached saying “this is f***ed up.” And if that’s not an accurate review then I don’t know what is.
2. Inception (2010)
Directed by Christopher Nolan, Inception stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine. It was released in the year 2010.
Inception is a science fiction action film written and directed by Christopher Nolan in which Cobb and Arthur perform a form of corporate espionage by infiltrating the dreams of their subjects and placing ideas in their subconscious. The dream-like state is achieved by Nolan and his team through a series of impressive camera and CGI techniques which create a mind-altering state.
RELATED: 15 Movies like Inception that will Alter Your Reality
3. Memento (2000)
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Memento stars Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano. It was released in the year 2000.
Memento follows the investigations of Leonard Shelby, an insurance investigator who suffers from anterograde amnesia which means he can’t form new memories. So he uses notes and tattoos addressed to himself as clues to help him find the person responsible for murdering his wife. There’s also plenty of stars from The Matrix films that appear which made me come up with the conspiracy theory: what if Memento is just another level of The Matrix? I clearly need help.
4. Fight Club (1999)
Directed by David Fincher, Fight Club stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, and Jared Leto. It was released in the year 1999.
Fight Club follows the downward spiral of a corporate white collar insomniac who develops a friendship with Tyler who is a carefree soap salesman. Together the two of them start Fight Club and a Revolution begins. A revolution which soon enough evolves into a brand new form of homegrown terrorism. All for wiping your bad credit rating.
5. Dark City (1998)
Directed by Alex Proyas, Dark City stars Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Richard O’Brien, Ian Richardson, and William Hurt. It was released in the year 1998.
Dark City is a neo noir science fiction film which starts with a murder by a man with amnesia which quickly descends in an existential dilemma infused epic sci-fi ballad of The Matrix-like proportions. While Dark City was no mainstream success, it certainly deserves its cult-like status and is a worthy addition to this list.
6. Seven (1995)
Directed by David Fincher, Seven stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, and John C. McGinley. It was released in the year 1995.
Seven is a psychological thriller featuring a serial killer who bases his kills around the seven deadly sins mentioned in the bible. It’s a dark movie with horror adjacent traits, drug references and a commentary on the seedy underbelly that was New York in the 1980s. It’s also one of the first psychological thrillers that started the trend of an ending twist which surprised audiences all around the world. Seven also saved David Fincher’s career and helped Brad Pitt transition into more serious roles.
7. Secret Window (2004)
Directed by David Koepp, Secret Window stars Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton and Charles S. Dutton. It was released in the year 2004.
Secret Window follows Mort Rainey who retreats to his cabin to work on his writer’s block and is interrupted by a mystery writer named John Shooter who claims that Mort plagiarised his writing. Eventually, it is revealed that Shooter is a figment of his own hallucinations as Mort is gradually going insane and so kills his ex-wife, her new partner a private investigator. In my opinion, Secret Window is the best example of Johnny Depp’s acting range.
8. Nightcrawler (2014)
Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed, and Bill Paxton. It was released in the year 2014.
Nightcrawler is a psychological thriller about a photographer who captures violent events late at night and then sells the footage to a local news station. However, things escalate when the photographer is no longer satisfied with what he can simply find and so starts involving himself in the crime – in one form or another.
9. The Village (2004)
Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Village stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Brendan Gleeson. It was released in the year 2004.
The Village centers around the isolated, 19th-century, Pennsylvania village of Covington where the villagers live in fear of “Those We Don’t Speak Of”. Who are nameless humanoid creatures living within the surrounding woods. To keep them at bay, the villagers have constructed a large barrier of oil lanterns and watchtowers that are constantly staffed.
However, when one of the villagers goes missing, it leads to the truth of “Those We Don’t Speak Of” being revealed.
10. Bug (2006)
Directed by William Friedkin, Bug stars Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Lynn Collins, Brían F. O’Byrne, and Harry Connick Jr. It was released in the year 2006.
Bug is about a divorced waitress named Agnes who lives in a rundown motel room and spends her time getting high with her lesbian friend. However, one day she’s introduced to Peter who, while nice at first, turns out to be a conspiracy theory lunatic. And yes, actual tin foil is used in the making of this movie.
What did you think of Shutter Island?
Have you seen any of these other movies before? Did any make you feel out lost and claustrophobic like Shutter Island?
Let me know your favourite movies in the comments.
