One of the most frustrating aspects of contemporary movie trailers is their tendency to reveal the entire plot, including the best lines and stunts, in a succinct two-minute preview. Fortunately, this is not an issue with ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ the highly anticipated sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 critical and commercial hit. The long-time trailer for this film effectively teases the delights to come without giving away too much.
The story picks up with Lydia (Winona Ryder), the Goth teen who had the peculiar ability to see dead people and almost married the irreverent ghost and bio-exorcist Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) in the original 1988 film. Now an adult, Lydia hosts a television show called ‘Ghost House,’ where she explores haunted properties. Her rebellious daughter, Astrid (played by Jenna Ortega), doubts her mother’s claimed abilities, particularly as Lydia cannot see the ghost of her husband, and Astrid’s father, Richard (Santiago Cabrera).
Lydia is currently in a relationship with her show’s producer, Rory (Justin Theroux), but she still senses the presence of Betelgeuse, even spotting him in the audience during one of her show’s tapings. The plot thickens when Lydia’s father, Charles, passes away, compelling the Deetz women—Lydia, her stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and Astrid—to return to their original haunted house in Winter River. Meanwhile, in the afterlife, Betelgeuse finds himself pursued by his wicked ex-wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci), a soul-sucking witch who once poisoned Betelgeuse during the plague.
Unhappy about being stuck with her mother, Astrid finds some solace in Jeremy (Arthur Conti), a young man obsessed with Dostoevsky who spends most of his time in a treehouse. As Halloween approaches, the stage is set for multiple dramatic events, including Lydia’s impending marriage to Rory at the witching hour, attended by a selection of “influencers” and a probable Netflix executive. Meanwhile, Astrid and Jeremy plan to distribute candy to trick-or-treaters, and Delia busies herself recording blood-curdling screams for her grief installation.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ offers a plethora of elements to enjoy, from its visual design to the remarkable energy of its cast. The original cast members shine once again, with Michael Keaton delivering an exhilaratingly chaotic performance as Betelgeuse.
. Winona Ryder perfectly embodies the role of Lydia, a grown-up version of her lost Goth girl from the original film. Catherine O’Hara brings a gleeful performance as Delia, the quirky installation artist.
The new cast members contribute significantly to the movie’s manic charm. Monica Bellucci’s portrayal of the malevolent Delores deserves special mention, and Willem Dafoe impresses as B-movie star Wolf Jackson, who is the embodiment of a hard-boiled detective from a Dashiell Hammett novel. Danny DeVito also shines as a janitor who becomes the first unwitting victim of Delores.
Visually, the film is a tour-de-force of boundless creativity. The depiction of the bureaucratic nightmare that is the afterlife and the ‘Soul Train’ to the Great Beyond—resembling a locomotive themed after African American music—are visual delights. Different visual styles, from classic black-and-white sequences to animated snippets, enrich the storytelling. The melding of these styles serves the narrative well, such as in the recounting of Betelgeuse and Delores’ tragic love story and the comedic portrayal of Charles’s bizarre death: not from a plane crash or drowning, but from decapitation by a shark after the plane crashed into the sea.
The lively and spirited atmosphere of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ ensures that the movie is a delightful sequel, making the 36-year wait for its release feel entirely worthwhile. The film is a wonderful blend of humor and horror, filled with imaginative visuals and compelling performances from both returning and new cast members.
In conclusion, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ represents a return to form for Tim Burton, marrying his characteristic visual grandeur with a compelling storyline. The characters we loved from the original are back, their arcs enriched and expanded, while new personalities add fresh vibrance to the narrative. This is a sequel that meets and exceeds expectations, warranting its place in theaters and in the hearts of fans both old and new.
