shutter island

Shutter Island is moreover a film that revolves around notions of performance, illusion, and theatricality, and in many ways functions as a testament to the power of the moving image. The structure of the plot, in which Cawley's efforts to "direct" the action of the plot are concealed from the viewer, reflects the way film directors like Scorsese create complex illusions for their audiences. In this light, one of the film's central images—the lighthouse—might be interpreted as something like a seeing eye or roving camera lens.