Edward accidentally nips his face, then a little boy's. Edward is beaten with a stick repeatedly, and he stabs an attacker in the chest, causing him to fall out a window to his death. Mention of rape.
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A woman wears figure-hugging outfits and attempts to seduce Edward. She is seen on top of Edward wearing a lace bra, using his scissors to cut off her clothes.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Mom is an Avon lady, but besides the focus on make-up and hair, film is brand-free.
Positive Messages
some
An inventive take on the ugly-duckling motif, Edward proves once again that real beauty is on the inside. Themes include compassion and curiosity.
Positive Role Models
some
The neighbors are modern day witch-hunters, but the lead characters, including Edward and his foster family, are soft-spoken, friendly, and open to diversity.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that there is sporadic violence in Edward Scissorhands. Aside from a woman attempting to seduce Edward wearing a lace bra (she mounts Edward while he is on a chair and attempts to use his scissors to cut off her clothes), sexuality is limited to courting rituals (kissing and hugging). Some of the garish set pieces, like Edward's haunted mansion, and the title character, with mean-looking, scissors for fingers, may be terrifying for young children. There is a mention of rape. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Beautiful Story, Beautiful Characters and Full of Heart and Soul
This is one of the most beautiful stories I've ever seen. So, well written and an amazing cast. You can't go wrong with Johnny Depp, He's my absolute favorite acter and my Idol. I look forward to watching any movie with Johnny Depp in it. And Tim Burton is so creative with all of his work, and you know it will be a great movie when the two of them work together. If I could give it more than five stars I would.
I hope you like the movie and I'll see you at the next one. Till then, I'm the ProundRaven'sClaw and thank you for reading my review.
Timely for a 2021 exploration of social norms and biases - autism spectrum disorder
Families and classrooms can use the movie as a way to discuss bigotry, bias, empathy, exploitation, the attributes of autism, or what it can feel like socially for a person who has a developmental disorder. Once you recognize the autism spectrum disorder in the title character, it's a powerful demonstration of a truth which is tragically counter-intuitive to most of our society . People with autism are just as emotional and crave connection just as much as neurotypical people. They often are unable to outwardly display the emotion in typical ways, and are unable to read social cues such as body language and facial expression. I highly recommend this movie as part of any SEL (social-emotional learning) program, anti-bias education, or discussion of identity-based bullying. This kind of education can and should start at a very early age, and this movie can also be quite accessible at a young age, when it accompanies this kind of discussion.
The smallest children could find Edward's scissor/goth costume scary or off-putting, but with discussion they can learn that it's meant to make us feel that way, and why. His costume is buffered with quite a bit of whimsy.
This very short review is a worth a read. "Johnny Depp’s ‘Edward Scissorhands’: A Study in Stigmatization of Mental Illnesses" (https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/edward-scissorhands-johnny-depp-victor…) In this excerpt, the reviewer reveals the character beautifully: " In the film, Edward displays some of the more commonly recognized symptoms, including his difficulties with socializing, self-isolation, neutral facial expressions, lack of verbalization, overly literal nature, and misunderstanding of sarcasm. Edward is also incredibly focused and talented in a specific area, his creative artwork. Throughout the film, this is seen in his beautiful, detailed, and practically crafted hedges and ice-sculptures. Above all, Edward has feelings and is highly compassionate: something that both society and the townspeople of Burton’s fictional suburb ignorantly fail to understand about those with ASD."
What's the Story?
In EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) is a down-on-her-luck Avon representative shopping around her small, sunny neighborhood for prospective clients. When skewered resources force her to pay a visit to the local haunted house, she meets Edward (Johnny Depp), a recluse living in the attic who shyly appears in a zany 80s punk bouffant and leather getup, with scissors for hands. When the matronly Peg adopts Edward and brings him home for dinner, the whole family must deal with the razor-sharp consequences of Edward's scissorhands; most notably Kim (Winona Ryder), the doe-eyed daughter who becomes Edward's object of affection. At first, the townies welcome Edward with patronizing curiosity, but, after he rejects the advances of the neighborhood hussy, the town shows its true colors. Edward proceeds to get caught at the wrong place at the wrong time and is pursued by the police. Cornered, he is forced to make a choice between staying with the girl of his dreams or returning to his dark palace alone.
The film, lovingly directed by Tim Burton, is a darkly sweet (self) portrait of adolescent angst. We can all relate on some level to Edward's social awkwardness, and Depp's deer-in-headlights self-consciousness is adoring enough to soften the sharpest of pointed appendages. The pastel-colored township cuts a drastic figure against Edward's looming mansion in the distance. Like the best of David Lynch, Edward Scissorhands exposes the cynical underbelly of front porch Americana, forcing us to find beauty and truth in the grotesque when we allow what is "good" to run more than skin-deep.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Edward Scissorhands is an "Ugly Duckling" fable about a misunderstood, soft-spoken underdog who doesn't fit the cookie cutter mold.
What's "normal"? How does conformity play a role in the townspeople's treatment of Edward?
MPAA explanation:
violence, brief language and sexuality.
Last updated:
October 10, 2024
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