Stories from the set

When the American military enters the gates of Dachau, the arch of Auschwitz is shown. This is a mistake, as the gates at Dachau had the same inscription, but it looked different.

When Ted and Chuck went to Ward C, the lights in the ward flickered, even though all the generators had burned out.

The pistol that the commandant of Dachau uses to shoot himself is a nickel-plated Walther PP. The filmmakers deliberately chose the nickel-plated version so that it would contrast sharply with the dark floor. However, at the time of World War II, a nickel-plated version of the Walther did not yet exist.

The film is based on Dennis Lehane's novel "Shutter Island" (2003).

Columbia Pictures originally acquired the film rights to Dennis Lehane's book in 2003, but after numerous delays to the start of production, the rights reverted to the author.

The producers initially wanted Wolfgang Petersen to direct the film, but later preferred Martin Scorsese.

David Fincher was considered for the director's chair.

The film's visuals were based on Peddocks Island, Acadia National Park in Maine, Medfield State Hospital in Medfield, Massachusetts, and the Rice Estate retirement home near Turner Hill Country Club in Ipswich, Massachusetts. All of these locations were combined using computer graphics to create "Shutter Island." Large mountains were added during post-production.

One of the paintings Dr. Cawley shows as examples of the mistreatment of the insane is "Nebuchadnezzar," an illustration for the Bible by the poet William Blake.

Robert Downey Jr. and Josh Brolin were considered for the role of Chuck.