Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to director Tim Burton’s forever iconic 1988 movie is a must-watch.
Going into watching this movie I didn’t really know what to expect, except from the Burtonesque characters and aesthetics that make his cinema so iconic and praise-worthy. Featuring returning characters and settings, sequels often fail to live up to the first instalment in the franchise. I was apprehensive about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice for this exact reason. What if the plot didn’t feel original? What if the film felt stretched out? What if the already-loved characters were now dull in comparison to the first film? However, from the opening scene to when the final credits descended and the cinema lights flickered back to life, I realised that this was not the case. Tim Burton had once again created another one of my favourite movies.
Beetlejuice 2 continues the story of the titular demon (played by Michael Keaton) as he reconnects with Lydia (Winona Ryder) and meets her daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), for an adventure in the afterlife, whilst being hunted by a figure from his past. There are many returning characters but also exciting new characters like Astrid, Jeremy, Delores and Wolf Jackson.
One of the reasons that the movie was a success for me is the way in which Burton handled the sequel itself, as it is both distant and close to the original movie. The setting of the house and the character of Beetlejuice remain the same, but most of the returning characters were realistically presented as having developed and changed, and the plot was unique and engaging. Additionally, descending into the afterlife with the characters created a new perspective of Burton’s world and let his boundless creativity run even wilder.
The Burtonesque qualities in which the movie is entrenched was also another reason why it was a perfect watch this Halloween. Firstly, the setting was dark and gloomy, with much of the movie set in different parts of the underworld or in the church and its graveyard. Secondly, the clothing was distinctly Burtonesque, with Beetlejuice sporting both his famous striped jacket and the suit from the first film, Lydia in her usual gothic outfits, and Monica Bellucci in a black wedding dress. Bellucci, playing Delores, who is set to be a new favourite among viewers, is costumed like Frankenstein’s monster, with staples holding together her broken body and vengeance on her mind. Another of my favourite aspects of Burton’s movies are the recurring talented cast members, such as Winona Ryder who has appeared in countless of his films (Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie), and Jenna Ortega who features in his series, Wednesday. These actresses and actors are all both immensely talented but also have a certain quality about their appearances which corresponds to the ‘Burtonesque’ aesthetic.
What surprised me about the movie was how comedic the dark and strange humour which Burton often uses was. Characters such as the priest (played by Burn Gorman) who is stuck in the midst of the strange events and reacts perhaps how the audience would if in this situation, and Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe), a dead but egotistical actor-turned-detective who acts like he is still in one of his spy movies, serve as examples. Additionally, the climatic church scene near the end of the movie was not only a recognition of the iconic wedding scene in the previous film but was also comedic in its own right, due to the chaotic dancing and miming to a song, which showcased the characters in a silly light, contradictory to their personalities.
There were only a couple of aspects of the movie which I would criticise, as on the whole it was very engaging and entertaining. Namely, the endings for some of the characters. Bellucci’s character, Delores, whilst playing a key role in the majority of the movie, was quickly dismissed towards the end. This was the same with the character of Jeremy, who initiated the events of the plot.
However, perhaps we will see more of these characters in the future? The climax of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice seemed open-ended, leaving me to theorise that there might be another sequel to this franchise yet to be made. The use of Beetlejuice’s name in the title certainly leads to the expectation that there should be a third instalment, as saying his name three times is critical to the plot. Whilst I am hoping for a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice film, the 2024 sequel was amazing and entertaining in its own right and definitely a worthwhile movie to put at the top of your list to watch in these darker, spookier months.
Editor's Note: The tickets were kindly provided by York Student Cinema. £3 and £4 tickets are enjoyed by members and non-members respectively - check out their timetable here to see what they’re showing for the rest of the semester. Additionally, if you’re interested in helping out at any of their screenings, head along to their committee meetings at 18:15 in P/X/001 on Mondays to get more information!