Film Review - Edward Scissorhands

Fig 1. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands (1990) explores the various topics of isolation and modernism, whats interesting is how quirky it's narrative is, that  being Edwards isolation and exposure to this suburbia town, this linear difference between the inventors mansion and the suburbia town, and the darker tones that grow towards the ending by how the characters and the towns people act. Burton is well know for his visual input in his movies, the crooked shapes with monochrome colours that bend and stretch, something we only see in the mansion's interior that feels very metallic.

Fig 2

Through out the movie we can see Edward's character develop, at first he starts out isolated and alone, when Peg encounters him he keeps his distance, he's much more afraid of her as she is of him. Though as Peg welcomes him and gives this sort of motherly guidance that Edward never had, he grows comfortable. It's only when he's exposed to erratic situations that cause him frustration and anger, that's when we see a new side to him "It is Johnny Depp, however, who was previously confined to standard bad boy roles, who surprised the most, creating a character trapped by his incomplete body, accurately conveying Edward's frustration without using many words, his pale, scarred face showing the hurt on discovering that even the gentlest touch with his Freddy Krueger-like blades can cause pain" (Berry, 2000). It shows a more realistic tone to his character, that he does struggle and because of how different he is people of the town will start treat him differently.

Fig 3

From the start of the movie he does a lot for the people there by using something of his that outlines him from the rest, on the surface it seems innocent but below that it's rather cruel because the moment Edward decides against something or messes up most of the towns people turn against him and see his gift as a threat. This can be a lot similar to Frankenstein, though in this case Edward get's used and then chased away seeming to be the 'monster'. "Initially, the neighbours are intrigued and friendly and amazed by Edward's talents (fantastical topiary, hairstyling, salad-chopping). But, as they get to know him - and as he falls for Peg's doe-eyed daughter Kim (Winona Ryder) – lust, avarice and jealousy blossom darkly." (Lee, 2014)

Fig 4

Whats interesting is the linear blend between the Suburbia town and the inventors mansion. The mansion, exhibiting this empty, cold and dark atmosphere stands tall over the rest of the town which seems to communicate the opposite of what the mansion does. "The movie takes place in an entirely artificial world, where a haunting gothic castle crouches on a mountaintop high above a storybook suburb, a goofy sitcom neighborhood where all of the houses are shades of pastels and all of the inhabitants seem to be emotional clones of the Jetsons." (Ebert, 1990) The suburbia town seems to replicate itself and the only difference is the colour for each home, it gives off the sense that everyone here has a role to fill and their only way of truly feeling like an individual is owning various items that differentiate in colour. We get this very strong 50's feel from the suburbia town and a very Gothic medieval tone, the movie doesn't specifically state the year it's in either so it could be how it's world is designed, this mesh of various era's. 

Overall, revisiting this movie has been an interesting experience, the movie has a dark undertone but is wrapped up in it's artificial town that battles aesthetically and emotionally with the mansion that looms over it "Burton's vision, for all its sadness, is laced with humour and humanity. Like all true fairytales it bears endless repetition." (Lee 2014) and when one world merges with another or in this case ,when an isolated man that's been hidden away and bring something different to this untouched commercialised town it can bring some curious new experiences but can also stir up unwanted outcomes.

Bibliograpy:

Berry, J (2000) - Edward Scissorhands Review At: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/edward-scissorhands/review/ [Accessed: 07/11/17]

Ebert, R (1990) - EDWARD SCISSORHANDS At: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/edward-scissorhands-1990 [Accessed: 07/11/17]

Lee, M (2014) - Edward Scissorhands, review: 'a true fairytale' At: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11298442/Edward-Scissorhands-review-a-true-fairytale.html [Accessed: 07/11/17]

Lee, M (2014) - Edward Scissorhands, review: 'a true fairytale' At: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11298442/Edward-Scissorhands-review-a-true-fairytale.html [Accessed: 07/11/17]

Illustration:

Figure 1 - Edward Scissorhands - Tim Burton - Movie Poster (1990)

Figure 2 - Edward Scissorhands - Tim Burton - Movie Still (1990)

Figure 3 - Edward Scissorhands - Tim Burton - Movie Still (1990)

Figure 4 - Edward Scissorhands - Tim Burton - Movie Still (1990)