Topiary

Topiary refers to the arrangement and practice of cutting shrubery in order to create a clearly defined shape or pattern. The most basic form of topiary is a hedge, which is a cut into a geometric pattern in order to form a wall or barrier.

In film, one of the most well-known examples of topiary is found in the 1980 horror movie The Shining, in which the Overlook Hotel in Colorado boasts a giant hedge maze. The maze plays a key role at the end of the film when psychotic Jack Torrance pursues his young son, Danny through the maze with an axe, trying to kill him.

More advanced forms of topiary were presented in the 1997 television miniseries version of The Shining, which stayed close to author Stephen King's original story from the novel. The miniseries shows topiary carved in the shape of various animals that seemingly come to life to frighten Danny Torrance.

Another well-known example of topiary is found in the 1990 fantasy film Edward Scissorhands, directed by Tim Burton. In the movie, the titular Edward Scissorhands proves his skill with scissors by cutting elaborate shapes in various bushes and shrubs all over the neighborhood.

In Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 adaptation of Dracula, there was a topiary hedge maze located on the Westenra estate. Lucy Westenra and Mina Murray ran through the maze during a rain storm.