Post 1: Edward Scissorhands, 1990, Directed by Tim Burton

Edward Sicssorhands is a 1990 romantic film that allows for drama, fantasy, comedy, and imagination. Directed by Tim Burton and starting Johnny Depp, the plot is about an uncommonly gentle young man who happens to have scissors for hands. Edward is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter Kim.

In many of the previous movies directed by Tim Burton such as Beetlejuce and Batman, they all have a common theme of the main character hiding behind the mask of a monster (or outsider) only to discover that this kind human can be loved and appreciated to the community who once feared him. Contrasting images such as these reinforce the idea of romance and horror genres. A close analysis of the opening sequence of the movie reveals many of the conventions associated with the horror genre but that are later offset by elements of comedy and romance. As the credits roll, eerie music plays in the background and the opening graphics of jagged scissors and predominate colors of black and white establish a horror tone. Also visual of the haunted house where Edwards lives reiterates the horror theme. Although the music becomes lighter and some of the graphics appear as children toys the creepy but underlying tone allows the audience to see that this is not a horror film. The motif of falling snow, associated with Edward creates an atmosphere of tranquility and romance that attracts Kim to Edward.

The movie acknowledges the theme of self-discovery and isolation. A lonely creature is brought into a world where tradition and suburbia life and societies structure is disrupted by the presence of Edward Scissorhands. As Edward is treated kindly and a local celebrity to suburbia, change helps him feel comfort and belong. The most striking aspect of the movie is its visual style. To the looming castle and the peculiar small town, everything is stylized to extremes. The neighborhoods are all painted in bright pastel colors with houses that are all uniformed. Edward’s landscape artistry helps complete the impression of an artificial world. The movie is very charming while it shows romantic simplicity combined with bizarre characters that creates a far more removed world.

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