A romantic fantasy classic

Rating: 10/10 (2 April 2020)

Edward (Johnny Depp) is a man created by an inventor (Vincent Price) who is unable to finish him before his untimely death. Edward spends many years in solitude in the castle upon the hill until he is discovered by a kind lady from the town below (Dianne Wiest) who brings him into society and he quickly finds a lot of advantages having scissors for hands while also trying to find his place. It goes without saying that this is an iconic film not just in the genres of romance or fantasy but of filmmaking in general. Much like Beetlejuice beforehand, nothing has managed to capture the magic and the feeling of isolation more than this. Edward is a beautiful character; you feel such sympathy towards him and is one of the most relatable protagonists in film history. Tim has mentioned before that Edward represents how he felt as a teenager; wanting to fit in but being unfairly categorised. The desire to touch but inability to do so in fear or destroying something. It's a really powerful metaphor and through his perfect direction and Depp's incredible performance this symbolism completely hits home. The make up and costume department absolutely excel in creating the look of the characters, particularly Ed with his scarred visage resembling years of troubled attempts at self-care. West is fantastic as Peg; such a lovely human being and a career-defining role. Winona Ryder plays Kim; the girl who captures Edward's heart and his fascination with her is gorgeously told with delicate camera close ups. As well as being romantic and sweet, it's also tinged with genuine threat from outside influences making for the more sinister edge of the film and is also really funny with great supporting roles from Alan Arkin adding to it; Ed's first time drinking is a classic comedy moment. I could go on but you already know how great it is surely! A film for anytime of the year, especially the winter months and a brilliant, star-making performance for Depp