NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Paramount Blu-ray (June 2019): Paramount have transferred Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island to 4K UHD available worldwide but as a UK release (they are all Region FREE, regardless).

Firstly, Shutter Island is a very visuals and atmospheric movie and even these 4K UHD captures don't do the presentation justice. It looks even better on my system. It's a beautifully dark, moody viewing experience but while the image is brighter it is also darker having a far wider range of contrast in 4K (see the last capture with the fire - blown out on the Blu-ray. Colors become richer and flash tones advance. Detail rises and grain is fine and gives the film an impressive but subtle texture. The 2 1/4 hour film is filled on a 62 Gig disc with a high bitrate. The HDR does wonders for this image - the flowers in the courtyard and the pitch-level blacks are sumptuous..

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. This is the first where our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system.

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: The Matrix (software uniformly simulated HDR), Alien (software uniformly simulated HDR), Toy Story (software uniformly simulated HDR),  A Few Good Men (software uniformly simulated HDR),  2001: A Space Odyssey (HDR caps udated), Schindler's List (simulated HDR), The Neon Demon (No HDR), Dawn of the Dead (No HDR), Saving Private Ryan (simulated HDR and 'raw' captures), Suspiria (No HDR), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (No HDR), The Big Lebowski, and I Am Legend (simulated and 'raw' HDR captures).

I am was always baffled by the critical indifference to Shutter Island. I believe I watched a totally masterful and visionary piece of filmmaking. I can only assume that some viewers didn't embrace the topic (there are harsh themes, on multiple fronts, for those more sensitive. DiCaprio, Ruffalo, Kingsley - were all magnificent, the atmospheric cinematography, the restrained style, the indefinable 'Scorsese' touches - add up to a mesmerizing presentation. In my second viewing I identified many more of the incongruous segments as being totally intentional - veering us to, and supporting, the riveting climax. The 4K UHD presentation is gorgeous and equal kudos to the art direction - extras were more limited than I would have anticipated but this is another in the director's line of enduring cinema - he continues to raise the bar. Few directors are capable of making films this... hypnotic. This has our highest recommendation. This a favorite 4K UHD package.

***

ON THE Blu-ray  from 2010: Shutter Island appears visually pristine on Blu-ray from Paramount. There is a fine sheen of grain and colors, especially pastels, seems to come through very well - all this though is more the art direction, costumes etc. The Blu-ray just seems to be replicating it with pinpoint perfection. This is dual-layered with a fairly high bitrate and contrast exhibits healthy, rich black levels. The style never overtakes the scenario and this Blu-ray has nothing worthy of making issue. There are zero artifacts, depth is occasionally apparent, detail strong and I see no sign of digital manipulations. I was duly impressed with the video presentation of Shutter Island. It appears to look as good as it can in 1080P.

The DTS-HD Master 5.1 at, a powerhouse, 4725 kbps is as perfect (or more?) than the video transfer. There really is no way to critique it as it appears to be replicating the filmmakers intent with zeal. The film doesn't have a lot of aggressive moments but whenever a bass punch, range, depth or sweeping high end for the score is required - the track handles it with relative ease. Audio is a good part of this presentation and the lossless track can't be criticized. There are optional subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

Unfortunately, no commentary but this may be a film that stands better by itself than an endless discussion of themes and narrative assessment. There are two featurettes: Behind the Shutters and Into the Lighthouse running almost 40-minutes in total. These lean to production pieces with the principals giving soundbytes. No bad stuff actually. I'll admit I really would have enjoyed a commentary and there are no BD-LIVE bells and whistles that I could ascertain. So, surprisingly skimpy for such a high profile film.

Gary Tooze