“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Rises From the Dead
By: Esmeralda Gonzalez
Over thirty years after the release of the 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice, its sequel has finally hit theaters.
Taking place nearly three decades after the original, the storyline follows the Deetz family after tragedy has suddenly struck. The film still centers around Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) as she finds herself back in Winter River while she tries to navigate through similar challenges she had once put her own step-mother (Catherine O’Hara) through with her own daughter.
Now, Lydia is widowed, with a rebellious daughter who seems to want nothing to do with her. She is still the same goth, ghost-friending personality she once was— yet there is a slight twist. She is now a reality tv star, starring in her own show Ghost House where she aids others with their ghost problems. However, we find her troubled by her talents of constantly seeing the dead.
Her daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), has the same energy her mom once did— a rebellious attitude, a love for all horror and an intellectual spunk. Feeling lonely, misunderstood, and still grieving her father’s death, she finds herself thrust upon the afterlife after a series of lies tumbles her down there.
It’s in there where we are reintroduced to the infamous trickster demon Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton). In the sequel, we are given more backstory to the villainous cadaver, unearthing unexpected findings. There is one expected aspect of the familiar corpse– his delusional and persistent infatuation for Lydia Deetz (and his want to get out of the afterlife to continue his chaos).
Yet, the audience is able to catch a glimpse of his softer side. From the constant reek of romance oozing off of him as he navigates through Lydia and his ex-wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci), the cinematically romantic storytelling of his prior relationship and the serendipitous serenades, Betelgeuse is more than just the ruthless trickster he was a few decades ago.
The performances given by the cast were alluring, each returning character feeling mostly true to their original form and every modern character feeling just as authentic as the rest. With riveting performances given by Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Willem DaFoe, and Justin Theroux, their characters seamlessly blend right in.
As with most sequels, the film itself did have some minor grievances. While the film was good, don’t go in expecting the same spark the original had. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice felt more like a romantic comedy as opposed to the original horror comedy. The elements of tricks and horror were rather mild. From Betelgeuse not being as callous as he once was to the not-surprising-predictability of a certain “plot twist” in the midst of the film, the original creativity that made the 1988 film a classic felt dim.
Still, Burton’s signature gothic style was captivating and the cast’s exhilarated praises for the escapade leave everyone eager to experience the film for themselves. So– don’t be afraid to grab your Handbook for the Recently Deceased and find your way over to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in theaters now!
Rating: 3/5