Edward Scissorhands, the goth that captured the audience’s hearts. Photo collage courtesy of junior Vyolet Burrus.
Many students at San Luis Obispo High School stay up to date on current movies being released, and some would even consider themselves film buffs, but more often than not students neglect the classics. One such movie is “Edward Scissorhands,” a gothic Tim Burton film produced in 1990.
“I like [‘Edward Scissorhands’] for the vibes. My preferred movie genre is ‘makes me cry but also feels cozy’ and Eddy Scissors fits that perfectly. Music by Danny Elfman is also always a plus,” said English teacher Serena Enzerink.
In the film, Johnny Depp stars as Edward, an “artificial humanoid”, who was left with scissors for hands when his inventor died before finishing him. Left alone in an abandoned manor for years, Edward is found by Peg, door-to-door makeup saleswoman (played by Dianne Weist), and brought to live in her suburban neighborhood.
That’s it. That’s the film. A man with scissor blades for hands is introduced to a “perfect” suburban neighborhood. So why has this film become so beloved by its audience throughout the decades?
“Personally I love all of Tim Burton’s movies, but ‘Edward Scissorhands’ is one of my all time favorites. I think the casting was perfect and the actors really brought the characters to life, and everyone should watch it because it’s just such a well done movie,” said junior Bee Penna Morrison.
As the outcast with a “freakish” appearance, Edward is expected to be the antagonist in this movie, yet the real evil lies in the suburban neighborhood. Instead of welcoming Edward into the neighborhood like Peg, the neighbors, although friendly, dehumanize him because of his appearance, treating him like a circus animal who’s only there for their entertainment.
What’s more is that “Edward Scissorhands” is not a happy story of finding belonging as an outcast. No, it’s a story that shows the flaws of our own society, highlighting ugly truths.
Despite this outward appearance, Edward is able to find comfort in Peg’s daughter, Kim (played by Winona Ryder), who sees his kind-heartedness. Unlike the other neighbors, Kim is the only one to really look out for him and act in his interest throughout the whole film. This adds yet another complexity to the film, as it is also a love story, albeit one with a bittersweet ending.
Even with the overarching lesson the film portrays, it is not a complete tragedy. The film is also incredibly funny at times with the ridiculous contrast of Edward’s aesthetic and personality combined with the neighborhood’s self-absorbed housewives.
The polarization of the lively neighborhood and Edward’s previous isolation further enhances the film, as Edward must fit into this community despite his extreme otherness.
“We designed the neighborhood to appear as though you’re seeing it through Edward’s eyes…The great thrill is the friction between those two aesthetics within a single frame,” said the movie’s production designer Bo Welsh.
Burton created the film because as a child he related to “outcast monsters” from films like “Frankenstein,” being perceived as a dark individual as he grew up in a sunny, suburban neighborhood. His experiences as a teenager are ones the audience can relate to, with many young adults feeling like outsiders in their own community.
“I think [this feeling] is a pretty universal thing. It’s the feeling of not being able to fit in or the feeling of wanting to touch something but not being able to because you’ll hurt it and everything will crumble if you touch it. It’s an early teens kind of feeling,” said Depp on the Arsenio Hall Talk Show.
“Edward Scissorhands” is a beautiful movie with so much to offer, being full of beloved scenes and memorable moments for the audience to enjoy. From the actors to the music, the movie is something to be loved by all, so give it a watch, Tigers!
Sources: variety.com, screenrant.com, Arsenio Hall Talk Show
