“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,” are the three words used to summon a unique cinematic world for movie viewers. It has been 35 years since the iconic horror/comedy film, Beetlejuice, came out in 1988. But now, 2024, gives its fans, new and old, their own sequel to enjoy, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, directed and produced by the Warner Brothers Production Company and Tim Burton, reintroduces us to Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) in a recording studio working for a TV show on ghost encounters. After a concerned message from her stepmother, Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara), regarding her father’s unexpected death, she eventually runs out of the show’s filming set. While she was grieving her father, Lydia must also break the news to her daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who she is not on speaking terms with. The movie walks you through the journey of a mother and daughter’s unique dynamic through hauntings, death, surprises, and even an appearance from Beetlejuice himself.
The 1988 film made its mark on me with its unique story and iconic characters, but I found its strangeness to be a little hard to comprehend. The second film had a lot to live up to and the hard work put in was clear.
The movie had an abundance of references to its prequel, including the model of Winter River, the town where most of the movie takes place, and inclusion of the song “Day-O” by Harry Belafonte. The largest appeal for me was the mix of a currently trending actress, Jenna Ortega, and many of the original cast members such as: Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Michael Keaton, starring as Beetlejuice.
But playing with ideas from the first movie can only lure the audience in so far. The movie is a sequel, not a reboot, making new plot points necessary to keep audience members on the edge of their seats. Any viewer can appreciate the continuance of the franchise, but for the movie on its own, there were some disappointments.
I quickly found the film hard to follow along with its multiple plot lines. Each character has seperate storylines that eventually melted into one another. New characters who mainly interact with Beetlejuice in the second movie, Beetlejuice’s ex-wife (Monica Belluci) and an underworld cop, Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe), also seemed to me as unnecessary additions, lacking relevance to the main plot and occasionally popping up just to add nothing to the plot or their character. Jenna Ortega’s character was more successful in presenting a new plot, while showing details relating her to Lydia.
The movie’s quality was satisfactory in delivering detail, with many sets and costumes to pay homage to the original film. One feature I recognized that OG fans will enjoy is the claymation sandworms that were featured in the first film with ‘80s special effects. The iconic lip-syncing scene was also recreated to the song “Macarthur Park” by Richard Harris, but in an elaborate scene in a church bursting with color and chaos.
Although the film has its weaknesses, it has done a good job at carrying on the quirky and bizarre legacy the first film layed out. The advertising for the movie was focused towards those who know the original film since its main features were the first film’s theme song, “Day-O” and the returning cast members. This landed Beetlejuice Beetlejuice number one in the box office for two straight weeks, making a profit of $340 million, according to Collider.
I loved how this thrilling film had the audience attentive and giddy the entire time, while still acknowledging its predecessor, making it a success regardless of its flaws. The movie is perfect for embracing the Halloween spirit and audiences are excited to talk about the return of Beetlejuice.
