Even before Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” hit theaters, the trailer alone seemed to pull everyone into its mysterious plot. Along with shelling out the bucks to create its $41 million opening weekend, audience members peeked out from behind their hands as they embraced the twists and turns that Scorsese presented.

While the audience walked into the theater expecting gruesome action and torn flesh, that was not what they got. A mind game from the very beginning, it seemed naÃ.ïve to assume that anyone could expect what the ending would be like.

Opening as a prison escape mystery on a highly secured island, the audience follows as leading actor Leonardo DiCaprio attempts to uncover the prison’s secret.

As one of Scorsese’s favorite actors to work with — the two have worked together on four films — DiCaprio presents his character so well that by the end of the film it seemed half the audience was brought to tears as his downfall unraveled.

Besides epic performances by all members of the cast, including Michelle Williams and Ben Kingsley, the filming and presentation were something to brag about.

Hearts seemed to race as the music, perfectly placed, roared loudly in the background of a scene. At just the right moments, the camera zoomed in on DiCaprio to catch his angst as he watched his recurring nightmare replay over and over.

Jason Blackman, a sophomore creative writing major, describes Scorsese’s direction as epic.

“Cinematography: great; product design: incredible; I was on the edge of my seat,” Blackman said.

Despite receiving praise for years from fans and critics alike, Scorsese has been snubbed at the Oscars about a dozen times, until his triumph in 2007 for his star-studded crime film “The Departed.”

Like his other films, “Shutter Island” seems to grab audience members and pull them into the film so that they can feel the emotions going on within it — when one person loses it all, viewers feel like they’ve lost it all.

So while Scorsese seems to be slighted at the Oscars, with six Best Director nominations and only one win, his countless other awards, from the Golden Globes to other recognition, has made him a man of honor.

Erin Pitkow, a sophomore cinema major, recalls never being disappointed by a Scorsese film.

“As many movies as Scorsese has made, I’ve never walked away from one feeling that I didn’t get my money’s worth,” said Pitkow.

Martin Scorsese may not be a “success” in relation to the Oscar world, but it seems he has won more in the hearts of his fans. The movie “Shutter Island” hooks you, and it’s no wonder movie buffs seem to gravitate toward the almighty Scorsese when hitting the movie store.