3491. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Dianne Wiest, Winona Ryder

Director: Tim Burton

Running Time: 105 mins

Edward Scissorhands is an American film about a lonely young man with scissors for hands who is taken in by a suburban family. At first, his presence brings life to the local community, but his differences soon begin to create tensions.

The quintessential Tim Burton movie, Edward Scissorhands is a delightful blend of quirky comedy, distinctive fantasy and sharp drama, brought to life by director Burton, along with an eclectic cast featuring a young Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Alan Arkin and many more.

As strange as the premise may be, Edward Scissorhands is a film that’s very easy to fall in love with, above all thanks to its bizarrely sweet atmosphere, as outsider Edward is at first welcomed with open arms into a seemingly picture-perfect suburban community.

It all seems just a little too strange to be real, but director Tim Burton gives the film an atmosphere just light-hearted enough to say that it’s not to be taken seriously, and along with the excellent, stylised performances from the likes of Depp and Wiest, it’s more than clear what this movie is from the get-go.

As a result, Edward Scissorhands manages to impressively overcome any ‘weird’ labels and unfolds as an utterly charming comedy-drama, developing a heart of gold with Johnny Depp’s lovable lead performance, as well as some sly suburban satire as the story goes to another level.

It’s a story that wouldn’t seem out of place in a children’s storybook, but Burton brings an extra layer of depth to Edward Scissorhands with that touch of satire, as we see young Edward go from being welcomed to the community to a villain in the eyes of its small-minded residents.

With captivating drama across the board to balance out its distinctive brand of fantasy and humour, the film is gripping from start to finish, only bettered by beautiful visuals and a fun-loving sense of imagination that keeps things feeling fresh throughout. So, that’s why I’m giving Edward Scissorhands a 7.9 overall.