“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the long awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic, picks up where the first film left off, only 36 years later. At its heart, the movie is a chaotic continuation, featuring main actors reprising their roles. The picture showcased Micheal Keaton returning to his iconic role as Beetlejuice, as well as Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz. As time has passed in real life, Keaton’s character becomes even more outlandish and outdated, adding an unhinged energy to the film.
The film successfully blended the old storyline with the new one, bringing in Jenna Ortega to add a new character to the franchise, Astrid Deetz, Lydia’s daughter, with a demeanor quite similar to what Lydia’s once was. Although the mother and daughter’s relationship in the film gives us one of the few emotional connections in the project, the newer characters—such as Monica Belluci’s Delores—are not given a full storyline or character development. I would say that bringing Ortega into the franchise assisted in bridging the gap for Gen Z moviegoers, as she is popular to the younger generation due to her role as Wednesday in her 2023 Netflix show.
On another note, the cinematography perfectly fit the film and added to its strange and unusual atmosphere, incorporating aspects of classic Burton-style claymation. Additionally, Burton’s handmade set pieces are a nice break from the CGI-heavy industry. The realistic nature that the movie was filmed in lead to some parts that border grotesque, such as spurting of blood or spilled guts. The scenes in the afterlife are filled with lots of color and creativity. Viewers see this especially when it comes to the different residents and locations that showcased the director’s dark sense of humor. When paired with the gothic and eccentric music, the cinematography creates quite the visual experience.
Watching this film independent of the first movie is possible and enjoyable, but the viewer would miss key references to the original picture. As a whole, I would recommend this movie as a fun fall watch, particularly for moviegoers interested in outlandish movie-making and nostalgia.