On Sept. 6, Warner Brothers Pictures premiered Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to the 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice. It follows Lydia Deetz, the psychic main character of the first movie, now as a single mother who struggles to make ends meet. After the tragic death of her father, she returns to her hometown of Winter Rivers to face her demons—literally—in the form of the returning antagonist, the titular Betelgeuse.
The original is a testament to Burton’s capabilities in immersing the viewer in a world of fright and fun. The sequel carries this tone through, maintaining the same surreal humor and dazzling visuals. The also movie stars many familiar faces to fans of the original. Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz, and Michael Keaton as the titular character. The movie also features many new faces to the franchise, namely Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s teenage daughter, Willem Dafoe as the underworld’s top detective, and a brief cameo from Danny Devito as an undead janitor.
Not to mention the star-studded team lurking behind the scenes. Tim Burton and Danny Elfman collaborated on this project, directing and writing the film’s score respectively. The duo’s spooky and surreal style oozes out of this movie. The two match in hell with Burton’s token bright colors, geometric shapes, and caustic humor and Elfman’s driving, eerie, yet whimsical score.
So far, the movie received positive reviews. It swept up nominations for the Queerites’ “Next Big Thing” category and “Most Anticipated Movie” from the Astra Midseason Movie Awards, and also secured an award for “Best Film” at the Venice Film Festival. It currently holds a 7.1 on IMDb, a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 81% on Fandango.
Now, is it worth the watch? For fans of the original Beetlejuice, it definitely is. The movie stays true to what the characters really would be doing 20 or so years in the future. Seeing beloved characters get into paranormal hijinks is hard to beat. Also, for fans of Burton and Elfman’s other work, it’s a must-see. However, it’s recommended to watch the first Beetlejuice. The film doesn’t thrive as a stand-alone. Part of its charm brings the old characters back to life in new, yet equally absurd ways.
According to Tom’s Guide, the movie is anticipated to come to streaming platforms in early November or late December, which just misses the Halloween season. However, it is still showing through September at Regal Hacienda Crossings, The Vince Cinema, and Alehouse, so grab your tickets.
