As Tim Burton's previous masterpieces are being released in 4K, it was only a matter of time before one of his most beloved—now considered a classic—made its way to our small screens in all its 4K glory. Edward Scissorhands, a character synonymous with director and actor alike, won us over with its bizarre charm and stylised design. One that could never really truly be replicated, except by the creator itself. Though we did get some version of this in a car advert during the Superbowl a few years back with Timothee Chalamet donning the scissorhands. The character, made famous by Burton and Johnny Depp as the titular man, has been parodied, idolised by gothic millennial teens everywhere, especially at Halloween. But looking back at the film on its release on 4K, there is much more to be explored.
When well-meaning Avon saleswoman Peg (Dianne West) decides to enter the mysterious Gothic house on the hill, instead of finding a new customer, she finds Edward. Left alone after his creator died without finishing him, Edward has been left with scissors for hands. Peg invites Edward to live with her family, and at first, the neighbourhood embraces him, even celebrating his skills with his scissors. But when Edward falls for Kim (Winona Ryder), Peg's daughter, he incurs the wrath of Jim (Anthony Michael Hall), her boyfriend, as well as Joyce (Kathy Baker), an over-eager neighbour who didn't like it when her seduction had no effect on Edward.
Every inch of this film is designed to fit a fantastical mould, and it's only better in 4K. The gothic elements are there in the mysterious house on the hill in the middle of a clear suburbia that's drowning in pastels. It's the perfect green mowed lawns, the brightly painted houses and cars to match, that are the real aesthetic that feels hyper realistic. Edward stands out, not just because of his hands; his entire persona, look, and design are opposite to those in this pastel neighbourhood. It doesn't feel as if this town is normal. The real world, the entire tone and style, feels like it's part of a fairy tale. Thankfully, as this is one of Burton's early films, it isn't about style over substance; the story is as weird and wonderful as the backdrop.
Though the fantasy is definitely in the story, labelling the film as a romance is a slight stretch. Edward and Kim spend barely any time together—Edward spends more time with the women of the neighbourhood—but in the fleeting scenes they share alone, there is a sweet tenderness. The romance, as a result, does feel quite minor in the grand scope of the story. At the end of the day, it's a fairy tale, so relationship pacing has to be forgiven.
There of course has been many a Reddit forum discussing what Edward actually is. Is he a man, robot, a combo of both? Or is it just a modern folktale character that doesn't need defining? To suspend disbelief and fully enjoy the film, the latter is a much better option. Otherwise, you'll lie awake at night wondering what he was eating while alone all those years in the house, as well as other bathroom questions that could arise. The real mystery of the entire film is, where the hell did he get those massive blocks of ice?!
The smaller debate as to whether this could be classed as a Christmas film is there. With the finale taking place during Christmas, a showdown before a Christmas party, Alan Arkin singing Christmas songs, and most importantly, the snow created by Edward's ice sculptors are all points to be considered. But if we said any film that features Christmas is a Christmas film, the list would be far too long to reckon with. Whether Edward Scissorhands is a Christmas film or not is an argument for another time.
Revisiting this classic ignites nostalgia—yearning for the days when Burton made great films and when the weird and wonderful stories that don't make a lot of sense could be made without batting an eye. You'll be hard pressed to find an equivalent original story and character at the cinema or on streaming these days, so why not indulge in a revisit to Edward's world.
Edward Scissorhands is out now on 4K Ultra HD.
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