When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
Sorry Halloween, but Christmas has dibs on Edward Scissorhands.
As far as festivity goes, the Tim Burton movie isnt exactly subtle.
When he gets thrown into the straight-laced suburbs, things dont exactly go well for the awkward outcast.
So, why Edward Scissorhands?
Well, Im a bit of a masochist, what can I say?
Thats where unexpected holiday movies like Edward Scissorhands come into play.
Now, dont get me wrong.
I love a goodHallmark Christmas movie, and even find myself binging them on the off-season.
But nothing can hold a candle to whimsy and haunting motifs in Edward Scissorhands.
In fact, it critiques the very foundation that most Christmas movies are built on.
Edward Scissorhands gets that.
Hypocrisy is the name of the game.
Its not all flannel, hot chocolate cafes, and saving the local ice skating rink in Edwards world.
Hell, Kims high school is quite literally called Bland High.
Despite being one of Johnny Depps earliest roles, his performance of such a layered character is captivating.
Without Depp, it wouldnt work especially given thatA-list stars like Tom Cruisewere frontrunners.
Its highly unlikely that the movie would have the same feel had more commercialized actors led the film.
Meanwhile, Winona Ryder came fresh off the heels of Beetlejuice and Heathers.
Up to this point, her roles tended to be of the outcast variety like Edward.
Like Ryder, theres a soft comapssion to her performance as Peg Boggs stands out against her toxic neighbors.
We cant forget Anthony Michael Halls stint as Mr. Boggs, either.
A haunting holiday-ready melody
Danny Elfman has helmed some of Hollywoods greatest scores.
Call me biased, but out of the composers nearly 150 scores, Edward Scissorhands hits the hardest.
I have a pavlovian-like crying response to Ice Dance.
Its impossible to hear the ballad and not see a young Ryder dancing under Edwards man-made snow.
And though the bulk of the movie exists in pastel paradise (i.e.
pastel hell), the overarching Christmas theme is palpable.
Theres certainly an argument that Edwards pseudo father The Inventor is basically the Santa Claus of the fictional universe.
Really, theres something to be said about the cookie cutter analogy there.
More from Tom’s Guide
