In 1988, a comedy horror movie directed by Tim Burton called Beetlejuice became a huge hit among movie lovers. The plot revolved around the Maitland’s, a recently deceased couple, who contact a sleazy bio-exorcist, Betelgeuse, to scare the new house owners away. Flash forward 36 years, when Burton directs its sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara reprise their roles along with new cast members, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. This sequel tells the story of Lydia Deetz (Ryder) and Betelgeuse who returns to haunt her after the death of her father.
While watching the movie, one can see the technological advances over the years. In the original, film production used very limited CGI, utilizing a variety of techniques to create its special effects, such as stop-motion animations and models. In the new version, the CGI used added very graphic images to the movie. However, many people believe that the effects were too much.
Cole Cosby, ’27, stated, “Beetlejuice was a very entertaining movie and was filled with action. However, I feel that they went over the top with CGI.”
The movie had very few moments where it lacked action. Burton was able to constantly develop many storylines throughout the movie to keep your mind racing. These storylines consisted of romantic, familial, and vengeful relationships. He was also able to balance the comedy and creepy aspects of the movie.
Lochie Parker, ’28, said, “I felt that the movie had a weird vibe and had many twists. The characters had very unique personalities that spiced up the movie.”
Many sources have stated that the movie did not meet the standards set by the first movie but still is a quality movie that one should watch. After viewing this movie, I thought that the film was corny at times but still very captivating, and would recommend it to many people if they enjoy both horror and comedy. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is still in theatres for a few more weeks. If you are looking for something to do, this may be right for you.
