Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands (1990) is what happens when you mix a fairy tale with gothic aesthetics, throw in a misunderstood outsider, and top it off with a dose of suburban satire. Starring Johnny Depp as the most tragic yet stylishly dressed lawn care specialist in cinema history, this film is a whimsical and heartbreaking exploration of love, acceptance, and why giving someone with scissors for hands a hug is a terrible idea.
The Storyline: A Strange Visitor in a Too-Perfect Town
Edward Scissorhands begins with a classic suburban setup—pastel-colored houses, nosy neighbors, and a door-to-door Avon lady named Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest). While making her rounds, Peg stumbles upon a mysterious mansion at the edge of town and discovers Edward, a pale, timid man with an unfortunate pair of scissors where his hands should be. Instead of screaming and running away (as most rational people might do), Peg decides the best course of action is to adopt him and bring him home.
Edward, despite looking like he belongs in a goth rock band, quickly becomes a suburban sensation. His scissorhands turn out to be quite handy (pun absolutely intended) for hedge-trimming, dog-grooming, and giving elaborate haircuts that would make any high-end salon jealous. However, not everyone in town is thrilled about Edward’s presence—especially Jim, the jealous and rather punchable boyfriend of Peg’s daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder). As Edward’s romance with Kim blossoms, so does the town’s paranoia, leading to an inevitable and heartbreaking fallout.
Key Time Markers: The Rise and Fall of Edward’s Suburban Fame
- Peg Discovers Edward: The Start of Everything Peg, with the bravery of a woman who’s clearly committed to her sales quota, enters the eerie mansion and finds Edward living alone. His creator died before giving him actual hands, leaving him with an unfortunate but oddly artistic predicament. Peg takes Edward home, proving that suburban moms are truly fearless.
- Edward Becomes a Local Celebrity Edward’s scissorhands, initially a source of fear, turn him into a neighborhood sensation. He sculpts bushes into dinosaurs, transforms dogs into living art, and gives the ladies of the neighborhood avant-garde haircuts. He even gets his own business! Things are looking up—or at least, as up as they can when you have knives for fingers.
- Edward Falls for Kim (And Jim Becomes a Menace) The heart of the movie lies in Edward’s love for Kim, Peg’s daughter. Unfortunately, Kim is dating Jim, a guy with the personality of a wet sock and the moral compass of a cartoon villain. Jim manipulates Edward into committing a robbery, setting the stage for the town’s eventual turn against him.
- The Town Turns on Edward Despite his good intentions, Edward is accused of being dangerous. The same people who once adored him now see him as a threat—because nothing turns a small town against you faster than one unfortunate misunderstanding (and, well, having scissors for hands doesn’t help either).
- The Heart-Wrenching Finale In a dramatic and tear-inducing climax, Edward is forced to flee back to his mansion. Kim helps him fake his own death, ensuring that the town leaves him alone. The film ends with an older Kim recounting the tale, as Edward remains in his castle, sculpting ice in her memory.
My Take: A Beautifully Dark Fairy Tale
Edward Scissorhands is, at its core, a modern fairy tale—one that’s equal parts enchanting, humorous, and devastating. Johnny Depp’s performance as Edward is nothing short of brilliant. He barely speaks, yet manages to convey an entire spectrum of emotions through his expressions and body language. Winona Ryder’s Kim is the perfect balance of warmth and conflict, and let’s not forget Alan Arkin and Dianne Wiest as Peg and Bill Boggs, whose casual suburban obliviousness provides some of the film’s funniest moments.
The movie also serves as a sharp (no pun intended—okay, maybe a little intended) critique of suburban life. The pastel-perfect neighborhood, while seemingly welcoming, is ultimately shallow and fickle. The same people who praised Edward for his talent are quick to turn against him when he no longer fits their idea of normal. It’s a commentary on how society treats outsiders—first as novelties, then as threats.
Visually, the film is classic Tim Burton: whimsical, gothic, and slightly eerie, with Danny Elfman’s hauntingly beautiful score adding to the fairy tale atmosphere. The contrast between the dark, castle-like mansion and the overly bright, artificially perfect suburb is striking, reinforcing Edward’s status as an outsider.
Final Verdict: A Must-Watch for the Hopelessly Romantic and the Slightly Macabre
If you haven’t seen Edward Scissorhands, do yourself a favor and watch it immediately. If you have seen it, rewatch it and cry all over again. This film is a masterpiece of storytelling—one that tugs at the heartstrings while also making you reconsider ever complaining about your bad haircut again.
Edward’s story is a bittersweet reminder that sometimes, the world isn’t kind to those who are different. But even in solitude, love and beauty can endure. And if nothing else, it teaches an important lesson: Never underestimate the power of an Avon lady.