Written by:

Mitchell Duncan

Jacob Gilbert-Mahoney

            In the film Edward Scissorhands, Johnny Depp plays the lead role of Edward Scissorhands.  His entire performance is rather silent, as he only speaks 169 words throughout the entire film. There are many themes throughout this particular movie, including romance, hatred and fear. All of these incorporate into Depp’s character as an isolated monstrosity. This antihero who dominantly speaks without speaking, can be very powerful and influential to the viewer through his eyes. Once this secluded character is finally brought into society he under goes a slow change as to adapt to his new found home.

            Johnny Depp made many choices in the film that we make throughout our daily lives, the only difference is that his isolation caused him to never develop his common sense and difference between right and wrong. The more he stays within reality he becomes more enabled to develop these traits. It does not come fast though, half way through the film, he is tricked into robbing a house, is then arrested, and soon after these events is neighbor Joyce enacts to seduce but is rejected, causing to take revenge by claiming he tried to “rape” her. This combined with the break in causes his former chums to turn their backs on him along with Peg and her family.

            The colors of the people’s clothing, houses as well as cars contrast largely to Edward’s costuming. While everyone and everything appears colorful and flashy, Edward’s attire is of very black clothing, pale complexion, facial scars and crazy hair. This was likely used to display Edward’s difficulty to blend with reality and the people he is surrounded with. His attire also matches his disposition, which is very different from the happy and out going personalities of the community members. We find this very important because it displays the uniqueness of Edward and the similarities of everyone in the small neighborhood. Costuming is clearly very important in this motion picture because the actor can portray a monstrosity as much as he wants but as long as he doesn’t look like one, the full effect will not sink in to the audience. We thought this was well used through the entirety of the screenplay as it matched well with the musical score.

            The portrayal of his role uses many different techniques. The director uses full-front position to help display his vulnerability and silence as a character. His entire role is reprised through acting with his eyes. In variation, Tim Burton (Director of the film) also uses the three-quarter turn at the first reveal of Edward to make him appear hostile. As the plot evolves this impression changes from a violent figure to a passion driven character. This excellent use of camerawork and angling helps us the viewers understand characters and plot in a deeper meaning.

             To establish an effective use of mystery, Burton uses many different techniques for lighting in the film. One example is the use of low-key lighting at the first reveal of Edward. This particular form of lighting is used to create a mysterious and somewhat ominous view of the character. At first glance, you can only see Edward’s silhouette as he emerges from the shadows, and revealing his Scissorhands. This helps create this ominous feeling, exciting the viewer, and giving the deceiving sense Peg, for example, felt in that instance. Another easy to spot lighting technique used in this movie is backlighting. This is used most effectively during romantic scenes. Tim Burton used this in Edward Scissorhands when Kim realizes her feelings for Edward when she is dancing in the “snow”(being shaved ice from Edward’s ice sculpture). In the background you can see bright flashes of light around her even though this scene was shot at night.

            The film still has its share of flaws to it despite its overall positive appeal. Kim’s brother, Kevin, played by Robert Oliveri, plays a very small and rather unimportant role throughout almost the entire film. The only major set piece he plays is near the end of the film when Edward saves him but his actions have the consequence of mistakenly cutting him. Also, at the films end, it is revealed that the elderly woman speaking is Kim. She believes Edward is still alive after all this time, because before he came down from the mansion there was no snow, but once he did it began to snow. The film claims that the ice sculptures he makes in his tower is used to make the snow, which falls on the neighborhood below. The problem with this theory is how in the world did he manage to get those ice blocks, and get them all the way to the top of the mansion (Please comment below your theories on how he got them up there). Kim claims that she never went back up to the mansion because she wants him to remember her as she was when they were young. So that means hat Edward had to remain completely self sufficient as he went back to his old life of isolation, so how does he manage to get all that ice. This plot hole appears to be the only major one, but it’s a pretty major one.

            To conclude, Edward Scissorhands is very well a good classic movie. It teaches high moral values including not judging a book by its cover. It’s symbolic, enjoyable, and delivers an outgoing message to the audience. While it has its issues, ice sculptures and the protagonist sometimes being over the top, it is understandable that Edward has to seclude himself from society, thus having no common sense, but the only missing components were his hands. Can’t he still portray emotions on some level rather than evolving them when finally in society? It is easily a Tim Burton classic to be preserved through the ages.